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 and oldest independent company that processed cocoa beans in North America. In 2018, Fuji Oil Holdings, Inc. bought the company.
Contents
The Story of Blommer Chocolate
Blommer Chocolate was started in 1939. Three brothers, Henry, Al, and Bernard, founded it in Chicago. Their family had a background in making candy, farming, and selling ice cream.
Growing the Business
The company grew quite a bit over the years. In 1948, they bought Bishop Chocolate in Los Angeles. Then, in 1951, they acquired Boldeman Chocolate in San Francisco.
Blommer opened more factories to make chocolate. Their second factory opened in 1970 in Union City, California. A third factory started in 1980 in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. In 2001, they began building a new warehouse in Pennsylvania.
Big Milestones
By 2003, Blommer had about 450 employees. Their earnings also grew, reaching over $500 million. In 2006, the company bought a factory from World's Finest Chocolate. This factory was located in Ontario, Canada.
In 2018, a company called Fuji Oil Holdings Inc. bought Blommer. They paid $750 million for it. Even after the sale, the Blommer family and the main leaders stayed in charge.
Changes in Leadership
In 2022, Peter Blommer stepped down as the CEO. He is Henry Blommer's grandson. Peter had started working at Blommer Chocolate when he was 17, back in 1991. He continued to work as the Vice Chairman. Nao Rokukawa, who was the Chairman, became the temporary CEO.
In 2024, the original Blommer factory in Chicago closed. The company moved its operations to its other factories.
How Blommer Chocolate Works
Factories and Research
Blommer Chocolate has three main factories in North America:
- Campbellford, Ontario
- East Greenville, Pennsylvania
- Union City, California
They also have a special place in Chicago for research and development. This is where they create new chocolate ideas. There is also another factory in China.
The Famous Chocolate Smell
The old factory in Chicago was famous for its chocolate smell. This sweet smell often filled the air in the West Loop area. Many people in Chicago loved it.
However, in 2006, someone living nearby complained about the smell. They said it broke the Clean Air Act. Blommer was not fined. They explained that they were making their air filters better.
What Blommer Chocolate Makes
Blommer processes a lot of cocoa beans. More than 45% of all cocoa beans processed in the United States are handled by Blommer. They turn these beans into things like cocoa butter, cocoa solids, and chocolate liquor.
About 70% of Blommer's business is selling chocolate to other companies. These companies then use Blommer's chocolate in their own products.
Blommer's Chocolates Company does not sell directly to people in stores. However, another part of the Blommer family used to run a small store. It was at the front of the Chicago factory. This store sold different chocolates and baking supplies. It closed in February 2020.
