Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut: Championship Round

And then there were two…

The 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut challenge has reached the championship round.

The single-elimination, bracket-style challenge that started with 16-Connecticut-made products is down to the final two.

The championship matchup is: Munson’s Chocolates’ Pecan Caramel Patties vs. Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense’s Frangible Joint.

CONNSTEP President and CEO Beatriz N. Gutierrez Reveals the Final Two Products Left in the CBIA’s 2025 Coolest Thing Made in CT Competition (Source: CT Buzz, WTNH 8)

Family History

So what makes these products so cool?

The Pecan Caramel Patties have been part of Munson’s Chocolates history for three generations.

“This one singular piece represents more than just chocolate, caramel, and nuts,” said  Munson’s Chocolates’ Karen Munson. “That piece of chocolate tells a story that’s as rich in history as Munson’s Chocolates.”

Munson’s grandparents established the business in 1946 as “The Dandy Candy Company,” specializing in hard candy.

The Pecan Caramel Patty was one of the first confections her grandfather created with when he started experimenting with chocolates.

Engineering Excellence

The Frangible Joint is an essential component for space exploration and national defense.

“The Frangible Joint represents the pinnacle of engineering coming together with operations,” said  Ensign-Bickford’s Michael Axler.

The joint attaches the lower stage of a rocket to the upper stage and uses an explosive charge to precisely separate the two halves of the rocket.

The joint is vital for helping the rocket reach orbit.

“You’re sending a payload up into outer space with millions and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment on it—you get one shot to make that separation.”

Munson’s, Ensign-Bickford and the 14 other companies in the competition represent some of the best of Connecticut’s manufacturing sector.

Living Legacy

The CBIA Foundation-led Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut is a way to celebrate the innovation and excellence of the industry.

“The beauty of this competition is highlighting what Connecticut is all about, what Connecticut manufacturing is all about,” said CONNSTEP president and CEO Beatriz Gutierrez during a segment on WTNH News 8’s CT Buzz with Natasha Lubczenko.

CONNSTEP is a presenting partner of the challenge.

“This competition is highlighting what Connecticut manufacturing is all about,” says CONNSTEP’s Beatriz Gutierrez. “We always talk about Connecticut being a state with a legacy of manufacturing,” Gutierrez said.

“What we’re here to say is it’s not a legacy—it’s alive. We have around 4,000 companies, large and small, working together, making better products and showing the world what we’re all about.”

“What I think is so great about this competition is that it brings these smaller manufacturers to the forefront,” added Natasha Lubczenko.

How to Vote

So far, more than 33,000 people have cast votes for their favorite product in the competition.

Voting in the championship round is open through Thursday, Sept. 18. Voting is open to the public. Each person may cast one vote per device, per head-to-head matchup each round.

The winner announced at the Oct. 2 Connecticut Manufacturing Summit at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.

The Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut challenge is made possible through the generous support of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, Image Marketing, Blue Back Square, Medtronic, the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing, and Forge.