Got the munchies?

For the snack-happy motorist, nirvana lies just off Interstate 90 near the state line.

The Nut Factory, despite its name, offers a lot more than nuts. It sells panned chocolates, old-fashioned candies, gifts and collectible tins, as well as pretzels, trail mix and seeds. Yearly, the company ships 3,000 pounds of sunflower seeds alone to restaurants.

“We manufacture ingredients for snack foods,” said owner Gene Cohen, “and provide products to supermarkets such as Fred Meyer’s, bakeries, delis and health-food stores, among others.”

Cohen purchased The Nut Factory (formerly called the Triangle Nut Co.) in 1980 from its 28-year owner, Herman Schwartz, who founded the company in 1952.

For the next two decades, the company expanded its products from the original 15 to more than 450, added a wealth of customers, and diversified into importing, manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and mail order.

Entering the store, one might learn Cohen is in the factory, whipping up divinity, with its fluffy, fudgelike taste, or other mouth-watering treats. Shelves stock an array of teapots, china, cards, baskets, stuffed animals and sweets from another era.

“Customers wanted old-fashioned candies,” Cohen said, “so we stocked toffees, brittles, glazed nuts, licorice and jellies.”

Much of the company’s business comes from its catalogs and 420-page Web site.

Cohen said the trend in his industry is to grow bigger and bigger. But he believes that kind of growth can diminish quality.

“I think a ‘boutique approach’ to the food industry is the logical next step. Starbucks did this by carving out a niche, and that’s what I see as the next step for us.”

Cohen’s success allows time for travel with his wife, Judy.

“We’ve visited over 35 countries in the past 20 years. We love the outdoors, and hike mountains in summer. I’m also involved in compiling a history of Spokane, as reported in the local newspapers in the 1920s. It’s fascinating, and I’ve covered 14 years already, day by day.”

And day by day, Cohen’s business prospers.

“People tell us we’ve done well, and we often hear we did something better than others. That’s very satisfying, as people love to be recognized and valued.”