World's Finest Chocolate

World's Finest Chocolate
Private
Founded 1939
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Products Chocolate
Website WorldsFinestChocolate.com

World's Finest Chocolate is a chocolate company based in Chicago, Illinois.[1]

The company has sold more than 5 billion chocolate bars, their best-known product.[2] They manufacture chocolate "from bean to bar", and source cocoa beans from their own cocoa farm in St. Lucia.[2] They also own Queen Anne, a brand of cordial cherries.

The core of the company's business is bulk sales for school fundraisers and corporate gifts,[1] and it is one of the largest suppliers of this market segment.[1]

Despite the name of the company, it lists no awards for its chocolate on its web site, and has never won an award from major chocolate competitions, including the International Chocolate Awards,[3] the (UK) Academy of Chocolate,[4] the Good Food awards,[5] and the Fine Chocolate Industry Association.[6] It has also not been selected by major consumers' organizations such as Consumer Reports.[7]

History

The company was founded by Edmond Opler Sr. in around 1939 under the name Cook Chocolate Company. He started the division that produced chocolate bars for fundraising in 1949, and called it "World's Finest Chocolate". In 1972, the company's name was changed to "World's Finest Chocolate". Opler's son, Edmond Jr., has run the company since Edmond Sr. retired in 1988.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schmeltzer, John (February 7, 2006). "Chocolate firm breaks mold ; World's Finest expands into retail". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2012. (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 Plunkett, Jack W. (2008). Plunkett's Food Industry Almanac. Pluncket Research, Ltd. Retrieved May 20, 2012. ISBN 1593924496
  3. ↑
  4. ↑
  5. ↑
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Consumer Reports, "Recommended Chocolate Bars"
  8. ↑ Teresa Jimenez, "Edmond Opler Sr., Candymaker" (obituary), Chicago Tribute, August 30, 1995 full text

Further reading

  • Miller, David (September 15, 2011). "Broadcast group works with World's Finest Chocolate on Guinness record-setting campaign". The Dispatch. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  • "How many calories? World's biggest chocolate bar unveiled". The Sun. September 14, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  • "Local Company Seeks Record For World's Largest Chocolate Bar". CBS News (Chicago). September 13, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  • Lowe, Frederick H. (November 27, 1991). "Chocolate firm settles bias lawsuit: World's Finest will pay $2 million to blacks and women who were denied jobs". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved May 20, 2012. (subscription required)
  • Chavez, Donna (November 29, 1992). "World's Finest A lifetime built on chocolate". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 20, 2012. (subscription required)
  • http://abc7chicago.com/business/made-in-chicago-worlds-finest-chocolate/515061/
  • https://www.packworld.com/article/robotics-sweeten-wip-worlds-finest-chocolate


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