Episode
How the Murdick Family Built a Fudge Empire on Mackinac Island
- Published
- Jul 3, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 488
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Summary
This episode of Family Business Stories with Fexingo travels to Mackinac Island, Michigan, where the Murdick family has been making fudge since 1887. Lucas and Luna explore how a single recipe, a strict no-motor-vehicle island policy, and a commitment to hand-paddling fudge on a marble slab created a brand that survives 140 years later. They dive into the economics of a seasonal business that does 80% of its annual revenue in July and August, the challenge of training new candy makers in an era of labor shortages, and how the family navigated the 2020 tourism collapse without losing the business. The episode touches on succession: the current fifth generation is deciding who will carry the paddle next. A sweet, specific story of sticking to what works in an age of constant disruption. #Fudge #MackinacIsland #MurdickFamily #FamilyBusiness #CandyMaking #SeasonalBusiness #Succession #ArtisanFood #Tourism #Michigan #SmallBusiness #BusinessHistory #Legacy #Handmade #Retail #GenerationalWealth #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo