The Zingerman's Community of Businesses, a group of companies spun off over the years from the iconic Detroit Street deli, has added its eighth affiliate, Zingerman's Candy Manufactory.

Originally part of the Zingerman's Bakehouse, the candy company officially formed this month under the leadership of managing partner Charlie Frank, the Bakehouse's former pastry manager.

"The whole idea is that each business has someone running it who's passionate about it," Frank said. "I'm passionate about candy."

The company's only product right now is the Zzang! candy bar: the original bar made of nougat, peanuts and caramel and dipped in chocolate; the Ca$hew Cow featuring cashew brittle and puffed rice; and What the Fudge?, a bar described as "a hunk of fudge turned into a candy bar."

They are considerably more expensive than a Snickers -- each one retails for $6 through Zingerman's Mail Order, or $5 each if more than four are ordered at the same time. But Frank said the price is competitive with other high-end candy products that share the shelves with Zingerman's candy at gourmet grocery stores and specialty shops.

"We're not as expensive as (some other brands)," he said. "It's an honest asking price."

The candy bars are already available at 90 retail outlets across the country, and Frank said the goal is to have 100 repeating wholesale accounts in all 50 states by the first year of operation. Currently the candy is sold in 21 states. A major retailer is the Whole Foods grocery chain, which sells the bars in the Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Northern California.

Frank said the candy bars will be the main focus of the business for the near future, including bringing back bars with raspberry marshmallow and maple butter/shortbread fillings.

"Eventually we want to do all types of candy," Frank said. "There's all types of things you can do with sugar."

The company will employ two people -- Frank and one other worker. It is renting space from the Bakehouse on Plaza Drive in Pittsfield Township.

Zingerman's Coffee recently applied for permission from the township to expand into a space on Plaza Drive, and sell retail coffee from its roasting facility.

All eight companies employ approximately 500 people, marketing manager Pete Sickman-Gardner said.

Freelance reporter Dan Meisler can be reached at danmeisler@gmail.com.