Blommer Chocolate Company facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Chocolate |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founders | Henry Blommer, Al Blommer, Bernard Blommer |
| Headquarters |
,
USA
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Area served
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North America |
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Key people
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Henry Blommer, Al Blommer, Bernard Blommer, Peter Blommer |
| Products | Chocolate, Cocoa powder, Cocoa butter, Chocolate liquor, chocolate-panned products, confectioner coating, other chocolate ingredients |
| Revenue |  $907 Million (2019) |
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Number of employees
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900 (2019) |
| Parent | Fuji Oil Holdings Inc. |
Blommer Chocolate Company is a big company that makes chocolate. It is based in Chicago, Illinois. They are known as the largest supplier of chocolate ingredients in North America.
Before 2018, Blommer was the biggest independent company that processed cocoa beans in North America. In 2018, a company called Fuji Oil Holdings, Inc. bought Blommer Chocolate.
Contents
The Story of Blommer Chocolate
Blommer Chocolate was started in 1939. Three brothers, Henry, Al, and Bernard Blommer, founded the company in Chicago. Their family had a history in making sweets and ice cream.
Over the years, Blommer Chocolate grew. In 1948, they bought Bishop chocolate in Los Angeles. Then, in 1951, they bought Boldeman Chocolate in San Francisco.
The company also opened new factories. Their second factory opened in 1970 in Union City, California. In 1980, they opened another plant in East Greenville, Pennsylvania.
By 2003, Blommer had about 450 employees. Their sales reached over $500 million. In 2006, they bought a factory in Ontario, Canada.
In 2018, Fuji Oil Holdings Inc. bought the company. The Blommer family still helped run the company after this. In 2022, Peter Blommer, a grandson of one of the founders, stepped down as CEO.
Where Blommer Chocolate Works
Blommer Chocolate has several factories in North America. These are places where they make their chocolate products.
Their main factories are in:
- Campbellford, Ontario (Canada)
- Chicago, Illinois (USA)
- East Greenville, Pennsylvania (USA)
- Union City, California (USA)
They also have a special place in Chicago for R&D. This is where they create new chocolate ideas. They even have a factory in China.
The Chocolate Smell of Chicago
The Blommer factory in Chicago is famous for something special. It often sends a sweet chocolate smell into the air. Many people in Chicago love this smell.
In 2006, someone living nearby complained about the smell. But Blommer explained they were improving their air filters. The delicious chocolate smell is still a part of Chicago.
What Blommer Chocolate Makes
Blommer Chocolate processes a lot of cocoa beans. They process more than 45% of all cocoa beans in the United States. They turn these beans into things like cocoa butter, cocoa solids, and chocolate liquor.
About 70% of Blommer's business is selling chocolate ingredients. They supply these ingredients to other companies. These companies then use Blommer's chocolate in their own products.
Blommer Chocolate Company does not sell chocolate directly to people in stores. However, a different part of the Blommer family used to have a small shop. This shop was at the Chicago factory. It sold chocolates and baking supplies until February 2020.
