Townsville’s Confection Obsession continues meteoric rise at new Flinders St store

A Townsville candy-making business is going gangbusters with its new location, expanded offering, longer trading hours, kids playroom, and public library. See why it could become a tourist attraction.

Confection Obsession opens in Flinders Street. Jim Savage, confectioner Jayson Lewis and Scott Hughson.

After building a reputation for satisfying sweet tooth cravings, two Townsville confectioners are continuing their meteoric rise at a new location, intended to become a haven for a diverse customer-base including cruise ship tourists, children, bookworms, and nightclubbers.

Co-owned by partners Scott Houston and Jason Lewis, Confection Obsession grew from a market stall which continually sold out of their handmade candies, to opening their first Garbutt store last year, to upgrading to a new CBD location at 235 Flinders St – which soft-opened last week.

Since launching two years ago, the candymen have built a range of nearly 100 hard-boiled lollies flavours, and diversified into “marshmallows, honeycombs, rocky roads, brittles, gummies, and a whole heap of sugar-based confectionery”.

Their product range is expanding to include freeze dried foods, new drinks, desserts, and savoury meals – once their new kitchen was council approved.

“We’ve got our freeze dry machine … it’s one of the largest in Australia … where we can do up to 160 lines or even more products in freeze-dried foods, confectionery. We’ve added fruits and vegetables … and we wholesale it to other stores as well,” he said.

Confection Obsession co-owners Scott Hughson and Jason Lewis. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We started the coffees as a bit of a way to bring in some tourism into the area, and the hot chocolates and dalgonas are going well.”

Mr Lewis said dalgonas were a trending beverage featuring a “luxurious, whipped coffee foam on top of a flavoured milk”, while their dirty sodas were like spiders, where a soft drink had fruit, flavouring, creamer, sauces, sprinkles and lollies were added.

Confection Obsession opened its new store on Flinders Street in early July.

Confection Obsession opens in Flinders Street. Jim Savage, confectioner Jayson Lewis and Scott Hughson.

They also had Red Bull’s endorsement as the “go-to place for the Red Bull mixes” – which can receive the dirty soda treatment.

“Simple but delicious” savoury options will include sandwiches, sausage rolls, savory minces, salad bowls, pulled pork curries, tacos, sesame chicken, with gluten-free and dairy free options.

Leveraging their spacious new location, the confectioners have a public library/ book exchange for visitors to relax and read, board games, and a kids playroom.

“We encourage them to be loud and creative, to come in and actually be kids, not just give them an iPad to sit in the corner,” he said.

Thanks to their open kitchen, where visitors can watch the candy-making magic first-hand, and also try the lollies before they buy, Mr Houston said they were approached by Townsville Enterprise, as the city prepares to welcome thousands of cruise ship visitors over the coming year.

Confectioner Jason Lewis at Confection Obsession’s former Garbutt store. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We’re now in discussions on how we can make this area a tourist hotspot for the tourists to come in watch lollies get made locally in Townsville using as much local product as we possibly can, so that when they leave they say, ‘Oh, that candy shop in Townsville, you’ve got to go’ – giving reasons for people to talk about Townsville,” he said.

Their position within Townsville’s night-life precinct also allows extended trading hours until 2-4am on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays, providing another late-night food option for hungry nightclubbers.

For more information, visit: confectionobsession.com.au.

Originally published as Townsville’s Confection Obsession continues meteoric rise at new Flinders St store