In some quarters of the Fox Valley, Orson Fournillier and Yaw Asare are better known as the Brittle Daddies. Not because they’re fragile. Far from it. The name comes from their appearances at area farmers’ markets, sharing their special nut brittles.
Sharay’s Ghana Style Brittle is their pride and joy. It’s adapted from nkate cake, a West African sweet treat Asare remembered fondly from his Ghanaian childhood. Sharay was his nickname.
Asare became a Wisconsinite when he traveled to the state to study at Lawrence University. He stayed in Appleton to work in banking, but always dreamed of running his own business.
Fournillier became involved after the two had a chance meeting at Appleton’s Juneteenth celebration. The Trinidad-born manufacturing executive found common ground with the Ghanaian over their mutual fascination with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
When not bonding over movies, the two talked business. Ultimately they decided that sharing food, and thereby culture, would fill a unique niche. To ensure a consistent supply, the pair ended up purchasing an Oconomowoc candy manufacturing facility with a downtown retail location.
Now, Fournillier and Asare are like two kids in a candy shop, guiding a business that brings a taste of West Africa to people’s lips and smiles to their faces.
