A Bradenton Couple Spins Sweet Treats with Wicked Witch Cotton Candy Company

This locally owned business all began with an Internet search nearly a year ago. Lakewood Ranch residents Scott and Jennifer Mayforth were exploring business ideas they could sustain in addition to their already busy schedules parenting their two youngest children — Logan, 7 and Reagan, 5 — and working full-time.

Jennifer is the general sales manager with For Rent Media Solutions, a multi-family housing media company, and serves on the board of directors for the Tri City and Florida Apartment Association, while her husband Scott works for the City of Sarasota Police Department. 

Their new business is based around special events, so they don't have to staff a shop full time. You can see them spinning sugar at Boo Fest Friday from 6-9 p.m.

Having already launched one other successful business, Once Upon a Time of Lakewood Ranch featuring handmade custom designed tutus, the Mayforths know what it takes to own and operate an entrepreneurial business venture.

It was Scott who came up with the idea of a cotton candy company after researching businesses online.

“Scott found a company in California, Tasty Clouds, started by a woman when she was pregnant and looking for fresh, hot cotton candy,” said Jennifer. “She has an amazing company that makes cotton candy vogue and chic. We researched the Tampa Bay area and found no one here doing anything similar.”

And so the Wicked Witch Cotton Candy Company was born. The name comes from an antique shop the couple came across years ago in Woodstock, VT, with a wicked witch candy shop sign.

“We thought it was neat and fun and something magical about it,” said Jennifer. “Our sign with the flying witch on a cotton candy broomstick draws a lot of attention too.”

Wicked Witch Cotton Candy Company caters everything from children’s parties to upscale, elegant events providing gourmet flavored, fresh handmade cotton candy spun from quality ingredients. Unlike processed cotton candy sold in chain stores, Wicked Witch Cotton Candy contains no preservatives and can be prepared with either kosher or organic ingredients.

“We offer an array of fully customizable products,” said Jennifer. “We recently catered a Pakistani and Indian wedding with cotton candy colors to match and martini glasses labeled with the newlyweds names.

“We work to give our customers what they want,” she continued. “We recently spun traditional blue and pink flavors at the VIP party for the opening of the Ringling Museum’s vintage poster exhibit and at the same time we can tailor our candy buffet for a child’s princess party.”

Thirteen flavors of spun candy are regularly available. In addition to the traditional pink vanilla and blue raspberry, Wicked Witch spins up everything from cherry to pina colada flavored cotton candy.

“There are a lot of crazy flavors that you can make into cotton candy. I’ve seen beer, whisky, rhubarb and pumpkin pie,” said Jennifer. “Our most popular flavors, and the ones I love, are watermelon, grape and green apple. Our kids are our test kitchen taste testers and they love all our flavors.”

In addition to the cotton candy “broomsticks” that can be hand spun at an event in the company’s commercial grade old-fashioned style cotton candy cart, Wicked Witch Cotton Candy offers a candy buffet with gourmet lollipops, re-sealable witch’s cauldrons packed with a choice of one or two ounces of cotton candy, cotton puff party favors, and rock candy lollipops with cotton candy.

“Many of our products can be ordered for delivery,” said Jennifer, “with the exception of our Cotton Martinis. Those are elegant martini glasses filled with a generous helping of cotton candy that we have to make on-site.”

Jennifer said she loves designing the event displays and interacting with people, while Scott is the king of spinning sugar — a skill he learned watching YouTube videos.

“It is a lot harder than you would imagine — and messy,” she said. “The first time I tried it I was covered from head to toe in sugar. So Scott is the candy man. With our commercial grade machines he can spin three cones in 60 seconds.”

A common misconception is that the product is made from tons and tons of sugar.

“It’s all air,” admits Jennifer. “Our ingredients are all natural. A bag of cotton candy is less than 100 calories and fat free. It actually has less sugar — 26 grams — than a can of soda.”

One surprising discovery is that cotton candy is fickle with Florida’s weather.

“It’s impossible to spin outside on a humid day,” said Jennifer. “In damp, humid environments the candy won’t spin out light and fluffy, so we’ll move our cart indoors or bring our Witches Cauldrons and Sacks.”

Wicked Witch Cotton Candy Company serves Manatee and Sarasota counties as well as special events in the Tampa Bay area. Products can also be shipped outside the area.

The Mayforth’s long-range goal is to open a storefront in downtown Lakewood Ranch.

“We would love to have a store modeled after Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York City,” said Jennifer. “Our dream would be to have a big place with all kinds of candy where people can have parties, come sit for awhile and have fun.”

The Wicked Witch Cotton Candy Company will be set up at two upcoming public events, including Friday's Boo Fest and again at Music on Main from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 4. Both events are on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch. 

For more information about special event packages call 941-748-0781.