Company History

One of the Country’s Oldest Candy Shops

The Original Fudge Kitchen’s sweet journey began on Memorial Day in 1972, when founders Joe and Paul Bogle opened their first store in Wildwood, New Jersey. Joe and Paul were just 17 and 15 years old at the time with an entrepreneurial spirit, and eager to find a way to save up money for college. The answer was fudge, and they persuaded not only their parents but several influential businessmen and a local lender to support their new enterprise: The Original Fudge Kitchen.

More than 50 years later, The Original Fudge Kitchen has grown to six store locations in Cape May, Wildwood, Stone Harbor and Ocean City, New Jersey. They produce more than 300,000 pounds of handmade fudge each year, along with saltwater taffy, specialty candies, chocolate-covered pretzels, coconut macaroons, and other decadent confections. It’s become a Jersey Shore tradition for locals and tourists alike, with a loyal following across the country.

In 2021, after decades of growing the Fudge Kitchen legacy, Joe and Paul Bogle handed the reins to Karen Thompson, and the Thompson family, who is a business owner in Cape May and a personal friend. Since day one, the Bogle brothers believed that “pride was the main ingredient, and Karen Thompson continues to hold the Fudge Kitchen to the same standard. As the business continues to grow, their expert fudge making craft hasn’t changed. They have been using the same recipe for over 50 years, and continue to hand whip their fudge in copper kettle pots.

Future plans include opening additional candy stores and starting a wholesale division to sell their homemade confections to stores across the country.