CHOCOLATE: There are hundreds of companies out there making Chocolate. Some are simply amazing, and some not so much. Here I will tell you about one of them that has been around for 97 years and still going strong.
I personally love me some Dark Chocolate. Add some nuts or coconut, and I am in Heaven. Check out the site after you read all this and make your very own personal box of Chocolates the way you love them. And what goes better with a box of Fine Chocolates? A glass of Fine Wine!! I have found the best place to get these Wines delivered right to your door. Amazing!!
Back in 1923, Clara and Russell Stover began making Chocolate in their Denver Kitchen. In the beginning, they only employed seven people, and the name of the company was Mrs. Stover’s Bungalow Candies.
GROWING WITH CHOCOLATE STORES
Within one year, they had a whopping five stores in Denver. With stores also in Kansas City, Lincoln, Omaha, and St. Louis.
With the expansion of their business, they decided to open their first factory in Kansas City in 1928. Four years later, all of the company operations relocated to the Kansas City factory.
ADDING MORE STORES TO THE BUSINESS
Just one year after the relocation, Stover’s opened up a drive-in store, ice cream parlor, and ice cream factory in Kansas City.
In 1943 the company officially changed to Russell Stover Candies. Mr. Stover also heads the Committee for the National Confectioners Association in Washington DC.
DEATH’S IN THE CHOCOLATE FAMILY
On May 11,1954 Russell Stover dies. Clara dies at the age of 93 in 1975
Six years after Mr. Stover’s death, Louis Ward, who was a box maker that supplied packaging materials to Russell Stover Candies—purchased controlling interest in the company. As of this time, the company was a publicly traded business.
In 1981 Russell Stover Candies became a privately owned company again. Twelve years later, Tom and Scott Ward were named co-presidents. The company acquires Whitman’s Candies.
1994 Forest Gump opened a large box of Russell Stover Candies and said ” My mama always said, life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”
February 10, 1996, Louis Ward passed away at the age of 76. A couple of years later, the sugar-free chocolates launched. Very quickly, they became the leading producer of sugar-free candies in America.
Russell Stover Candies received several awards from the American Culinary Institute in 2002. The company received honors for America’s best tasting Toffee, Chocolate Covered Cherries, Fudge, Truffles, Nut Bars, and Sugar-Free Chocolates.
The story of Russell Stover Candies goes on and on. Of course, they did bring out the reduced carb chocolates and added a new Diabetix line.
They have been in business for 97 years, and making the most tasty chocolates in America.
You go to their website. And build your box of chocolates or purchase a pre-made box, or maybe you just want a bag of Bites.
You will also find some beautiful boxes for the different holidays. But, who doesn’t love chocolate just cause they are great?
I have eaten the mixed boxes but, oh my, I can’t wait to get a box of just the ones I love. Join the millions of people who enjoy Russell Stover Candies, Whitman Candies, and Pangburn’s.