Woy Woy confectionary features in tourism campaign

The owners of a specialist confectionary business in Woy Woy are the latest Peninsula residents to feature in Central Coast Council's This is the Central Coast tourism campaign.

Mr Ganesh Crumlin and Ms Angie O'Sullivan are the owners and operators of Fudge Monkey, a business that specialises in gluten free desserts.

The pair launched Fudge Monkey brand in 2015 after deciding it was time to break away from their blue collar careers.

From humble beginnings selling their fudge at markets and car boot sales to opening their store and cafe on Blackwall Rd, the pair have since grown their business to produce all manner of gluten free desserts, from cakes, brownies and cookies, to their namesake fudge.

Three years on, the pair are still on Blackwall Rd and Fudge Monkey has steadily grown.

Mr Ganesh said the pair decided to go into the confectionary business because it made them and others happy.

The pair considered their business to be a boutique dietary requirement specialist store, with 100 per cent of their products made by hand and gluten free, with 80 per cent of their treats also being vegan friendly.

The duo has had such success with their dietary sensitive business that they're now exploring the possibility of a side business making hummus, but their true passion remains in fudge making.

The couple first started selling it at markets in the Blue Mountains, and then ventured further afield and into food and wine shows.

By 2016, Fudge Monkey had become so popular that it had outgrown the commercial at-home kitchen.

"We were making hundreds of cupcakes and fudges a week in a modified dining room that we had tiled and installed stainless benches," said Mr Crumlin.

"When we purchased the bigger oven and needed extra bench and fridge space, we decided to make the move," he added.

That's when production shifted to Woy Woy and Ganesh and Angie took the leap into running the store which doubles as a cafe.

"Because we chose to stay gluten-free for everything, we've got people coming from Wollongong, Mudgee, Newcastle, and some people turning up on the weekend and on Fridays from Sydney with eskies," Mr Crumlin said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 5 Jan 2019

Jennifer Ennion, Central Coast Council