GREENMOUNTAIN CHOCOLATES

By Ashley Weir/Daily News correspondent
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jun 04, 2012 @ 12:16 AM
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HOPEDALE —

Green Mountain Chocolate Co. is a chocoholic’s dream. With retail stores in Franklin and Hopedale, the company sells such delectable treats as Swiss and Belgian truffles, fudge and chocolate-covered potato chips. Last year, the company sold more than 12 million truffles and a million pounds of fudge. Most of these gourmet confectionery treats are handmade.

Upon entering the Hopedale retail store — the company has another in Franklin — a customer will be greeted by the friendly faces of its employees and hundreds of various kinds of chocolate treats.

The company’s motto is “taste has memory,” and based on its success — annual sales growth has averaged 10 to 12 percent — it seems Green Mountain’s products have become memorable, and profitable.

Green Mountain Chocolate Co. was founded in 1989 by Albert Kumin, Carter Administration White House pastry chef in Waterbury, Vt., hence the Green Mountain moniker.

Attracted to the small size and quality products of the company, Franklin residents Bill and Lisa Campbell purchased the business in 2002 and relocated the company to Massachusetts, where they lived with their two sons, Andrew and John.

The Campbells set up their first retail store in Franklin, later building a another retail store as well as a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hopedale in 2006 to fit the company’s growing needs of space and workflow.

The Campbells are both native to Massachusetts, Bill from Dedham and Lisa from Natick. Prior to purchasing Green Mountain Chocolate, Bill worked for chocolate manufacturers for 20 years, while Lisa’s professional background is in human resources.

“[Our] combined strengths are a great match to the company,” Bill Campbell said. Running the company has truly become a family affair with Bill and Lisa’s sons working part time in both the retail stores and in manufacturing.

Today, along with having two successful local retail stores, Green Mountain Chocolate is also a major supplier to the confectionery industry for products such as truffles and fudge. It was also recently Kosher certified.

Since its move to Massachusetts, Green Mountain Chocolate has become one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the state.

“The company aims for consistency and high-quality products, which is the reason why customers keep returning,” said Campbell. “Our products are made with only the highest quality ingredients, including Belgian chocolate.”

Go on line at www.greenmountainchocolate.com