Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream

Kilwin’s Chocolates & Ice Cream is a well-established American confectionery and ice cream retailer known for its handcrafted sweets and immersive in-store experience. The company traces its roots to 1947, when Don and Katy Kilwin opened a small bakery and candy shop in Petoskey, Michigan. Within a few decades, Kilwin’s shifted its focus entirely to candy and fudge, setting the stage for future growth. The first store outside its original location opened in 1976, and franchising began in 1982, which allowed the brand to steadily expand its footprint.

As of August 2025, Kilwin’s operates 178 stores across 30 states. Most locations are franchised, with select stores owned and operated by the company itself. Kilwin’s stores are a familiar presence in high-traffic tourist destinations, resort towns, and lively retail corridors, where the brand’s open kitchen format draws in passersby with the sights and smells of fudge and confections being made on marble tables. The product lineup features premium chocolates, hand-paddled fudge, caramel apples, brittles, truffles, and original-recipe ice cream, with Sea Salt Caramel standing out as a perennial favorite.

A significant milestone came in March 2023, when Levine Leichtman Capital Partners acquired Kilwin’s. This transition has fueled a new phase of expansion, with the brand actively growing through both new franchise sales and an increased number of company-owned stores. Over the past five years, Kilwin’s has sharpened its focus on high-visibility locations in the Southeast, Southwest, and select urban markets, adapting to evolving consumer patterns and the ongoing popularity of experiential retail.

Kilwin’s has built a reputation for consistency and adaptability, making it a reliable tenant for a range of retail environments. Its flexible store format and strong brand recognition have helped the company secure premium sites in mixed-use developments, lifestyle centers, and tourist-driven districts. The brand’s steady expansion and commitment to delivering a memorable in-store experience continue to attract interest from landlords, brokers, and developers seeking stable, high-traffic retail partners.