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Chocolate makes the world go round – at least it does for Sarris Chocolates. William Sarris discusses the growth and evolution of a small family chocolate company into a major player in the independent chocolate business, Sarris Chocolates. He discusses the universal love of chocolate, the company’s growth from the family’s basement to a destination retail shop, the production facilities that produce over 3000 chocolate novelties, and how this family has built a brand that continues to evolve and grow.
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“Make your own brand. You’ve got to build your brand – one person at a time.”
William Sarris
| 1:29 What makes chocolate so popular? | ||
| 3:44 William Sarris’ background and a brief history of Sarris Candies. | ||
| 9:02 How did the acquisition of Gardners Candies come about in 1997? | ||
| 12:01 What are the biggest challenges in working with and sourcing chocolate? | ||
| 15:30 What are the supply-side risks of sourcing cacao, and is it possible to mitigate risk? | ||
| 18:50 What is the production chain for chocolate candies? | ||
| 22:39 What exact chemicals are in cacao that leave human beings feeling good? | ||
| 28:32 How has the candy industry changed since Sarris Chocolates started in the early 1960s? | ||
| 31:26 What is involved in chocolate production? How hard is it for a small company to start and stay in the chocolate industry? | ||
| 34:40 How long does it take to go through the production process from the beginning to shipping a final product? | ||
| 39:34 What is the in-store shopping experience like for visitors at the Sarris Candies store? | ||
| 43:42 How difficult is it to balance the company’s brand in the chocolate industry versus the brand image with customers? | ||
| 46:43 What lessons can be learned from business decisions that may be good or bad? | ||
| 52:10 What are some considerations for making an acquisition in the chocolate industry? | ||
| 55:32 What has contributed to the success of Sarris Candies? | ||
| 56:42 What are the challenges in maintaining a retail business in general and in the chocolate industry specifically? | ||
| 1:03:45 What lies ahead for the chocolate industry, and what will be the biggest changes in the next generation? |
William Sarris is CEO of Sarris Candies, a family-owned business that his father started in the basement of the family home in 1960. Bill began working in the family business as a small boy, then joined full-time after graduating from Washington & Jefferson College with a BS in chemistry and physics. Bill has used his chemistry background in the development of chocolate recipes Sarris still uses today.
Sarris Candies has grown from being a home-based business to being available in over 1800 locations across more than 11 states. The Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour in Canonsburg, PA, has a production and retail facility that covers an area the size of a full city block, with over 100 yards of chocolate, penny candy, ice cream, and life-like plush toys. The company is also active through its online store and operates Gardners Candies store in central Pennsylvania. Bill was named Ernst & Young’s 2014 Entrepreneur of the Year in the Family Business Category for the Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia region.
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