Chocolatier Bud Kolbrener owns Lake Forest Confections, one of only a few candy kitchens in the country to make all ingredients for its fine chocolate confections on site in the candy store located on Clayton Road. Kolbrener opened Lake Forest Confections in September, 2004 to reunite six employees of his former business, Bissinger’s French Confections, which he owned and operated from 1974-1996.

During his candy-making sabbatical, Kolbrener traveled extensively and participated in international culinary classes, including a teaching session with Julia Childs. He currently works with master chocolatier Marley Otto, perfecting recipes and resurrecting confections not tasted by St. Louisans for almost a decade...which customers claim are even better than before.

Kolbrener’s vision is to create and provide extraordinary gourmet confections “like they used to be.” Using only the finest ingredients, Lake Forest Confections employs the talent and expertise of some of the most gifted candy-making artisans in the world to create culinary treasures for those who cherish the difference.

Master chocolatier Marley Otto has been making delicious candy since 1964. Otto is the son of Floyd Otto, the candy-maker Karl Bissinger trained in 1927 when he opened his first store in the region. Otto was part owner of the Bissinger’s store until 1974 when he sold it to Bud Kolbrener. He continued to work for Kolbrener until the company was sold in 1996. After almost a decade, the successful team reunited and are devoting themselves once again to what they love most--using the finest ingredients and extraordinary care to create world-class confections.