Peace by Chocolate facts for kids
 |
|
| Industry | Confectionery production |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Tareq Hadhad |
| Headquarters |
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
,
Canada
|
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Products | Food (Chocolate) |
Peace by Chocolate is a chocolate company located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Hadhad family started the company in 2016. They moved to Canada as refugees from Syria.
Contents
The Sweet Start of Peace by Chocolate
The Hadhad family began their chocolate-making journey way back in 1986. Issam Hadhad, the father, opened a factory and two shops in Damascus, Syria. Sadly, their chocolate factory was destroyed during a war in Syria.
The Hadhads lived in Lebanon as refugees for three years. Then, in 2015, Issam's son, Tareq, received help to move to Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The rest of his family joined him in 2016.
Making Chocolate in Canada
When they arrived in Canada, Issam Hadhad started making chocolate again. He began right in his kitchen! The family wanted to make more chocolate to share. They looked for help with money to grow their business.
They explained that borrowing money from a bank wasn't part of their family's traditions. So, they received a special loan from their community that didn't have any extra charges. They also raised over $25,000 through an online fundraising campaign called GoFundMe. Peace by Chocolate also received over $400,000 in help from government groups.
Giving Back to the Community
In 2018, Peace by Chocolate started a group called the Peace on Earth Society. This group gets a small part (3-5%) of all the money the company earns. The company hopes this society will one day become a full non-profit organization. By September 2023, the company had already put over $550,000 into the Peace on Earth Society.
Tareq Hadhad has a big goal: he hopes his family will receive a Nobel Peace Prize by 2050. He believes in "being selfless," which means thinking about others before yourself. He has said that a main value of their company is to give back. They also want to support different cultures, inclusion, and diversity.
The story of Peace by Chocolate is often shared by the Liberal Party of Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, even appeared in a video promoting the company.
Awards and New Stores
In September 2020, Tareq Hadhad won a National Entrepreneurship Award. This award recognized his positive impact as a new Canadian. He was also named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2020.
On March 5, 2021, the company opened a new store. This store is located along the Halifax Waterfront, a popular spot. Tareq Hadhad was also asked to join the board of directors for Invest Nova Scotia in September 2017. He often speaks at events to share his family's inspiring story.
