Rogers’ Chocolate

British Columbia has been the birthing grounds of many universally-recognized exports across all industries including Lululemon, PMC-Sierra, and Electronic Arts. I like to think that Vancouver is not only good-looking but also has it going on in the brains department. A great video that features that is here. One company that represents Vancouver’s looks and substance package is Rogers’ Chocolates.

They started in 1885 with humble beginnings in Victoria, operating as a single grocery store – not even initially focused on candy – and now can add, “turn local storefront into an international company and operate for 125 years” to their claim of fame.

In celebration of this hallmark, Rogers’ Chocolates is doing a few interesting things such as a putting an exhibit on wheels and setting up shop at YVR, rolling out a decadent line of goodies for their 125th Anniversary including Icewine Truffle (yum!), and featuring a new “Build-a-Box” function on their website that allows you to pick and choose your favorites for a custom-built box of chocolates. To me, this puts an end to the chocolates riddled with teeth marks or half-bitten treats that are abandoned and returned to the box in shame. The boxes can be directly shipped to over 50 countries around the world. Great holiday gift that allows you to put the personal touches on a convenient purchase.

On an entrepreneurial note, it’s interesting to see what the commitment and smarts of one man can produce. Charles “Candy” Rogers began by ordering his candy products from San Francisco, but realized that the hot items should be made in-house and prompted him to create his own recipes. Talk about resourcefulness. This is a great company steeped in tradition with a rich history that British Columbians can be proud of.

VancityBuzz.com