NFIB

Working Out the Bugs
09/ 11/ 2002

by Kathleen Landis

While wrestling with new flavors for his Hotlix handmade suckers--spiked with chili and liquor--inspiration struck company owner Larry Peterman. Tequila! But tequila needs a worm. So Peterman put one in the center of a tequila-flavored sucker. A slew of other bug-encased candies followed.

The Smithsonian Institution is one of Hotlix’s 1,000 museum customers: Hotlix developed an Amber InsectNside candy for The Smithsonian’s "Amber" exhibit.

Another museum's gold exhibit inspired suckers with edible, real gold centers.

Hotlix (at www.hotlix.com) raises its own FDA-approved bugs to insert in the lollipops. These creepy-crawlers are sold at colleges, museums and zoos, as well as to entomology groups. You can order them by calling 1-800-EAT-WORM.

Some folks can't lick their fears. But Peterman says many buy willingly, and kids devour the bug candies. Grape-flavored CricketLickets fly off the shelves when youngsters visit Hotlix's retail outlet in Pismo Beach, Calif. Hotlix also sells Larvets, which are dried worm snacks in flavors like BBQ and cheddar.

"Opportunity is where you find it," says Peterman. "Digging in the dirt, for instance."

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This article originally appeared in the August/September 2002 issue of MyBusiness magazine.

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