In November, we had the pleasure of featuring Calle and Wille Olsen, two brothers from Helsingborg now based in Miami, who founded ScandyCandy, a business bringing authentic Swedish candy to the U.S. market.
ScandyCandy is a business built on a simple yet powerful idea: to take the Swedish tradition of “Saturday candy” and make it available to an entirely new audience in the American market. The company was founded in 2024 by two Swedish brothers, Calle and Wille Olsen, who moved from Sweden to study and play soccer in Los Angeles. During their time in the U.S., they quickly noticed something was missing. There was no equivalent to the Swedish tradition of visiting a candy store every week to pick out your own bag of candy and enjoy a colorful mix of flavors.
For the brothers, Saturday candy wasn’t just a way to satisfy a sweet tooth, it was a tradition, a feeling, and an essential part of growing up in Sweden. When they discovered that this culture was completely absent in the U.S., the idea sparked: this was something unique that could be appreciated across the Atlantic as well. Their personal craving and the sense that there was a gap in the market became the starting point for what would eventually grow into ScandyCandy.
In the beginning, the business was small and more of a side project alongside their studies. The brothers started selling candy online, mostly to test if there was any interest. It quickly turned out that the response was positive. More and more people became curious about Swedish pick-and-mix candy, and slowly but surely, the idea began to take off. It became increasingly clear that there was a market and a demand.
Over time, the business grew and today ScandyCandy is no longer a small side hustle. It has evolved into a full-time operation, with two physical stores, a warehouse, and a growing team. The journey from those first online orders to the established business they run today has been filled with challenges and valuable lessons.
From the very beginning, the goal has been clear. ScandyCandy does not just want to sell a product, they want to establish a tradition.
Just like in Sweden, customers in the U.S. should be able to experience the joy of walking into a store, choosing freely from a wide assortment, and creating their own candy mix. The idea is for pick-and-mix candy not to be seen as a passing trend, but as something that can become a regular part of people’s lives. By introducing the Swedish way of enjoying candy, ScandyCandy aims to create a new habit and a culture that can live on over time.
Today, ScandyCandy offers both in-store sales and online sales. The stores are located in Coral Gables and Palm Beach and have already become a natural meeting place where different customer groups come together. Families visit to let their kids fill their own candy bags, while teenagers often hang out in the evenings, turning it into a social activity.
An important part of the concept is the product range. The goal is to offer as wide a selection as possible so that customers feel that everything they want is there. Just like in a classic Swedish candy store, there should be sour, salty, sweet, and chocolate, something for every taste. Ensuring that no one feels something is missing is central to creating the right feeling.
Building a business in a new country has not always been easy. The logistics of importing products from Sweden to the U.S. have at times been a significant challenge. But through determination and creativity, ScandyCandy has found solutions and kept moving forward.
Many practical matters were part of the journey. Everything from finding the right premises to adapting to various regulatory requirements. The path has been filled with both large and small obstacles, but also with key lessons that have strengthened the company.
Over time, it became clear that Los Angeles wasn’t the best long-term location for the business. Running a small-scale food operation turned out to be more complex than what the brothers initially thought, and the decision to move the business to Florida was fast. At the time, there were no Swedish candy stores in Miami, so the brothers saw an opportunity. Here, they saw the chance to build a store that could become both a meeting place and a hub for expansion. The move wasn’t easy since iit meant leaving something familiar behind and starting over in a new place. They had to rebuild their network, find the right location, and learn a new set of rules. But what first felt like a risky move turned out to be one of their most important decisions. In Miami, ScandyCandy gained a whole new energy. Here, they could open a store in an environment where people were more socially active, where families and young people were open to new traditions, and where Swedish candy culture could truly take root.
The move also showed the company’s flexibility and willingness to adapt. Daring to leave Los Angeles, despite it being where everything started, showed that ScandyCandy isn’t afraid to make tough decisions that are crucial for long-term growth. The journey from Los Angeles to Miami was not just a geographical shift, but a reflection of the company’s willingness to adapt, rethink its strategy, and make decisions based on long-term growth.
ScandyCandy isn’t just about candy. What sets the company apart is the combination of Swedish tradition, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for the product. The brothers behind the business built it from the ground up, investing time, energy, and dedication to bring their idea to life. The personal drive and sense of authenticity define the entire business. ScandyCandy doesn’t want to be just a store, it wants to be an experience, something that conveys a feeling and creates lasting memories for its customers.
ScandyCandy’s way of working is strongly influenced by Scandinavian values. It’s a humble approach where things are allowed to take time and where everyone does what needs to be done, regardless of title or role. When things get busy, such as during large order periods, it’s natural for the founders to step in and help out in the warehouse. It’s not about status, but about responsibility. The company strives to operate with respect for both customers and employees. This is reflected in a calm and thoughtful work culture, where the focus is on building something sustainable rather than rushing, and where mistakes are accepted as part of the process. Solving problems is more important than avoiding them.
For ScandyCandy, becoming a member of SACC Florida was a natural step, especially since the company’s core idea is built on sharing Swedish culture. The brothers saw it as a way to anchor their business within the Swedish-American business community and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. A membership with SACC provides them not only with a professional network, but also with a sense of community and belonging.For a company rooted in Swedish tradition and culture, it’s valuable to be part of a network that also promotes Swedish values in the U.S. It’s about gaining support, exchanging experiences, and finding opportunities to grow alongside other Swedish entrepreneurs in an American context.
The future looks bright for ScandyCandy. The company wants to continue growing and reaching more people — both by developing its store and expanding its online presence. The ambition is to open more stores in the future, starting with Palm Beach, while always maintaining a focus on quality and authenticity.
The goal is not just to follow a trend, but to create a lasting part of people’s everyday lives in the U.S. By staying true to their vision and continuing to build on the same values they started with, ScandyCandy has every opportunity for long-term success.
It all began with a simple idea and a personal sweet tooth. Today, ScandyCandy is a company with a clear identity, a strong vision, and a growing customer base.
To learn more about ScandyCandy, visit:
https://scandycandy.store/
