A maker of jams, spreads, ice cream and other treats featuring berries native to Newfoundland and Labrador, Dark Tickle Company has a long history that goes back over a century. While this family business began as a traditional fish merchant operation, the cod moratorium in 1992 forced a change. Now a thriving product manufacturing and tourism business, Dark Tickle Company’s products are sold across the globe.

First catch

It all started with Ford Elms in 1919. While Elms grew up in a fishing family, he experienced terrible seasickness and decided he needed a different career path. So, he started his own fish merchant business in his hometown of St. Lunaire-Griquet, Newfoundland and named it Ford Elms Ltd.

In addition to buying and selling cod, seal and other catches, he had a general store to support the trade. Fishermen could find just about everything they’d need in his shop—fishing gear, fuel, dried goods, clothing, groceries and more.

Changing tides

Elms maintained his namesake company for decades until he reached his 70s and decided to retire. Wanting to keep it in the family, he offered the business to his daughter, Gwendolyn and her husband, Stephen Knudsen, who returned home to Newfoundland in 1973 to take over. Together, they maintained operations and made changes along the way when needed.

After the Viking settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows was discovered, tourism in St. Lunaire-Griquet experienced major growth in the ‘80s. So, the Knudsens added a small craft shop to the back of their general store and named it the Dark Tickle Shoppe. They carried many locally made products, and after repeated requests for bakeapple and partridgeberry jams, they sought a supplier. Not able to find a source of jam, the Knudsens decided to make some themselves.

It was a move that paid off in dividends. In 1992, when the cod moratorium was enforced, the Knudsens were able to put all their attention into product manufacturing and tourism. They sold their interests in the fishing industry and expanded on their line of jams to include sauces, relishes and other products made with local influence.

Third line

Today, operations continue for Dark Tickle Company in St. Lunaire-Griquet, N.L., and the third-generation family business is owned by Gwendolyn and Stephen’s son, Kier Knudsen and his wife Anastasia. The organization now makes over 100 products, including jams, ice cream, chocolate, tea, coffee, yoghurt and many others. In addition to helping the local economy and providing jobs, Kier Knudsen says they value keeping things local. “Everything we manufacture is made from local ingredients, with some obvious exceptions like tea leaves and coffee beans. But anything that grows or is produced here, we source locally, including berries, eggs and dairy products.”

Dark Tickle products are still sold in the family’s craft store, as well as specialty gift shops and grocery stores across Canada and the United States. Online sales have also expanded their reach beyond North America. In addition to their manufactured products, in 2017, Dark Tickle expanded into experiential tourism boat tours and recently acquired Northland Discovery Boat Tours in St. Anthony. • ABM

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