Almeda Chocolates is now part of the Ryba’s Fudge family, bringing together two candy-making traditions with generations of devoted customers.

For 906 Club members who know Ryba’s through a favorite fudge flavor or a familiar pink box, this is an introduction to another longtime family favorite. Famous Chocolate Stix have been part of the Callewaert family’s own memories for decades. Now, the family has the opportunity to carry Almeda’s tradition forward.

More than a century of Almeda Chocolates

The Rupp Family in front of their store.

Almeda Chocolates began in northwest Ohio, where Almeda Rupp developed recipes in her kitchen and shared her creations with family and friends. By 1924, she was delivering hand-dipped chocolates door to door.

The business grew with help from her husband, John A. Rupp, and their sons. In 1931, the family began spending summers in northern Michigan, making and selling chocolates from a cottage.

Almeda’s son John and his wife, Mabel, later continued the business. Brent and Diane Taylor carried the tradition forward after Brent purchased Almeda in 1988. Their years of care helped keep the chocolates familiar to customers who returned season after season.

Read more about Almeda’s history.

A family favorite becomes part of the family business

For the Callewaerts, Almeda’s Famous Chocolate Stix were a treat long before this new chapter began.

Rena and Victor Callewaert’s children and grandchildren grew up enjoying them. Gregg remembers his mother counting the Stix in her box so she would know if anyone had helped themselves. A missing chocolate was not going unnoticed.

Those memories make the opportunity to continue Almeda especially personal. The family understands what it means to open a familiar box and expect the flavor you remember.

The commitment is to preserve Almeda’s recipes and the care that customers have valued for generations. Learning the established methods is part of carrying that tradition into its next chapter.

Get to know Famous Chocolate Stix

If you are discovering Almeda for the first time, start with its signature confection: Famous Chocolate Stix.

Each slender stick has a crunchy, toffee-like center made with roasted peanuts, covered in milk or dark chocolate. That peanut crunch gives Stix a different texture from Ryba’s smooth, creamy fudge.

They are easy to share, although the Callewaert family’s history suggests you may want to keep track of the box.

Almeda’s online shop also includes chocolate-covered nuts and mints. For another take on the signature treat, Stix Misfits offer the same chocolate-and-peanut combination in imperfect shapes and sizes.

The connection to Ryba’s Fudge Shops

Ryba’s own story began in Detroit in 1936, when Harry Ryba opened his first sweet shop. Harry and his son-in-law, Victor Callewaert, brought their fudge to Mackinac Island in 1960.

Today, the family’s candy-making heritage spans four generations. Visitors still watch fudge being worked on marble slabs before taking home slices in Ryba’s signature pink boxes.

That experience gives the family an appreciation for the work behind a beloved confection. Bringing Almeda into the Ryba’s family is an opportunity to continue another tradition, with Famous Chocolate Stix keeping their own identity alongside Ryba’s Mackinac Island fudge.

Explore the Ryba’s family story.

How to order Ryba’s Fudge and Almeda Chocolates

Both brands are available to shop online:

For now, purchases require separate orders through each website. Almeda chocolates are being produced in a separate facility, with production scheduled to move into Ryba’s kitchen in January 2027.

Planning to send gifts from both brands? Complete checkout on each website and review their individual shipping options.

What this means for 906 Club members

Ryba’s remains a participating 906 Club location. Almeda Chocolates does not yet participate, so 906 Club rewards cannot currently be earned or redeemed on Almeda orders.

Almeda is expected to join the program in the future. We will share participation details when they are available.

In the meantime, there is a new chocolate tradition to discover, or a familiar favorite to welcome back. Explore Almeda Chocolates and meet the Famous Chocolate Stix that have had a place in the Callewaert family for generations.