From Michigan With Love just released its 2025 Holiday Food and Gift Guide, and it features something for everyone, including some new products and some favorites from over the years. The guide was purposely released six weeks early to give people more time to purchase creative gifts for family and friends this holiday, as well as to boost the Michigan economy.
What started as an idea nearly 20 years ago has blossomed into the annual guide, as Franklin Dohanyos, owner of From Michigan With Love, continues doing monthly TV segments all over the state featuring two Michigan products. Sadly, the monthly TV segments will come to a close after a long, fun run with the issue of this final holiday guide.
“We’ve had a lot of fun over the years helping Michigan companies get much needed PR and recognition,” Dohanyos said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with delightful business owners from Marquette to Monroe, from coast-to-coast, and many points in between. As per figures from a couple years ago, if every Michigan household simply replaced $45 each month on Michigan products, approximately $2 B would be pumped into Michigan’s economy. That has the potential to create 12,000 jobs.”
Here is this year’s list:
DETROIT CAN COMPANY, Livonia
Detroit Can Company in Livonia was started in 2021 and creates stylish “gift cans” containing
delicious treats from Metro Detroit and other parts of Michigan. The colorful cans, which come in three different sizes, are sealed in decorative wrap. The cans can be personalized with the items you want. This “ready to go” gift can be reused for other purposes when empty. These collectable cans make a perfect gift for family, friends, and colleagues, and for many occasions such as birthdays, holidays, thank you gift, etc. The company can also help with fundraising and raffles.
SAFFRON AND SALT, Royal Oak
Saffron and Salt, LLC was created in Royal Oak in 2023 by Ashley Alexander. Ashley learned at an early age the love of canning from her grandmother who would can things to sell at her roadside stand. Saffron and Salt offers delicious products such as Candied Jalapeños – a little sweet, a little hot – great on sandwiches, tacos, and more; Firecracker Carrots – Sweet earthy flavor of fresh carrots pickled with an extra spark of heat; and Sweet Burn Bread & Butter Pickles – Crisp, salty, sour, sweet, and just spicy enough. All offerings are made fresh with real ingredients that you can pronounce and with zero preservatives. They are great by themselves or as a garnish, in dips, on hamburgers and sandwiches – anything you can think of. Great tasting with a bit of heat. Perfect for game day and for holiday gatherings!
JOANN’S FUDGE, Mackinac Island
Joann’s Fudge was opened in 1969 by Frank and Joann Nephew and is still family owned and operated. Joann’s Fudge has two stores on Mackinac Island and one in Mackinaw City. Joann’s offers 28 fudge flavors including some unique flavors like Raspberry Truffle, Orange Truffle, Vanilla Salted Caramel, Chocolate Toffee, Double Dark Cherry Walnut, and just in time for the holidays, Pumpkin Pie. The company makes delicious peanut and cashew brittle, as well as “The Ultimate Brittle”, which has a variety of nuts. It was Frank’s favorite and after he passed, the family decided to add it to its year around products. Also, Joann’s caramel corn, cheese corn, and caramel apples are the best on the island. Plus chocolate clusters, chocolate turtles, English toffee, large peanut butter cups, and chocolate barks.
STICKY BEE SOCKS, Roseville, MI
www.stickybesocks.com
Sticky Be Socks is a female-owned and operated business located in Roseville. The company makes stylish, warm grip socks that are crafted from the highest quality materials and are made to keep the wearer safe on their feet! There are socks for people of all ages – toddlers, kids, grown ups, and especially for seniors. They’re great for the gym, hospital stays, on wooden and tile floors, and wherever, for better balance. Sticky Be Socks donates a combined 20% of its proceeds the Pink Fund and the Fondle project.
HOLLAND BOWL MILL, Holland
The Holland Bowl Mill creates the finest heirloom wooden bowls, utensils, cutting boards, and household decorations you will ever find, made from exotic woods – mainly from Michigan! One of the hot offerings this year is the Michigan-shaped wooden bowl. The company started out as the Holland Wooden Shoe Factory in 1926 and then began turning hand crafted bowls from exotic woods. The Holland Bowl Mill recently expanded and updated its customer show room to highlight a bigger selection of bowls and more of the products it offers. The company still gives tours to anyone at any hour of the working day. Each bowl or product is hand made, hand polished with bee’s oil, and can be engraved for free on the bottom. It is the best and largest solid wood bowl production facility in the world and was featured on the Discovery Channel’s program “How It’s Made”.
PINCONNING CHEESE COMPANY, Pinconning
Pinconning Cheese Company celebrated its 77th anniversary this year. The store has over 150 varieties of cheeses plus many different flavors of cheese spreads. The most popular, of course, is Squeaky Mild Pinconning and the most exotic is a 16-year-old super sharp Pinconning Cheese. Pinconning Cheese creator, Dan Horn, began producing the now famous Pinconning Cheese in 1915. Over the years, Pinconning Cheese Company has been marketed as a destination to travelers headed north. The company also offers beautiful gift boxes.
GREAT LAKES POT PIES, Clawson
Great Lakes Pot Pies offers hand-made pot pies in a 9” and 5” size in a variety of flavors, including chicken, beef stew, pasty, and a new “Thanksgiving in a Pie”. There are hand pies in a variety of flavors, including breakfast and dessert, like chocolate chip and pecan pie, and gluten free and vegan offerings. All pies are hand-made with fresh ingredients locally sourced in Michigan as much as possible, and with no preservatives. Great Lakes Pot Pies makes a snack called “Pie Chips”, which are made from piecrust flavored with Cinnamon Sugar Pie on top.
DEARBORN SAUSAGE, Dearborn
A family tradition since 1946, Dearborn Hams and Sausages specializes in only the best hams that are perfect for holiday meals. All sausages are made fresh with only with the best cuts of meats. The company also has a plethora of snacks foods like jerky in various flavors, sausage sticks in various flavors, and other great tasting things – perfect for snacking during the games and for school/work lunches. Dearborn also produces Virginia Brand products and Farmer Peet’s products, including the much loved Pickle Bologna. The company’s products are available in stores across Michigan and at the retail stores in Dearborn and Roseville.
BETTER MADE SNACK FOODS, Detroit
Now in its 95th year, Better Made continues to be Michigan’s favorite potato chip and snack food maker. The company is still family owned, and still supports Detroit and charitable organizations in Michigan. Better Made’s famous chocolate covered chips are back and available in milk or dark chocolate. Better Made also offer a handy 18 ct. Variety Pack – great for packing lunches and for after school snack time, a 10 ct. original and BBQ multipack, and one of my favorites – the Better Made Detroit Mix – a delicious bag of caramel and cheese popcorn that I can’t stop eating! Try Better Made’s new Kettle Chips in three delicious flavors. All of these and more can be seen at www.facebook.com/frommichigan.
