Purdys Chocolatier facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Chocolate and other confectionery |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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Key people
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Richard C. Purdy, Founder Charles Flavelle, Former Owner Karen Flavelle, Owner CEO Lawrence Eade, President |
Purdys Chocolatier is a well-known Canadian company that makes and sells chocolates and other sweet treats. It started in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada.
Purdys has a large factory where it creates many different kinds of chocolates. These include special treats like truffles, hazelnut Hedgehogs, caramels, and creamy chocolates. Many Purdys stores also make fresh ice cream bars right in front of customers, dipping them in chocolate and adding toppings.
Purdys first started opening stores outside British Columbia in 1970, beginning in Alberta. Later, in 2004, they expanded into Ontario. Today, there are more than 70 Purdys stores across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.
The Story of Purdys Chocolatier
How Purdys Began
Purdys Chocolatier was started in 1907 by a man named Richard Carmon Purdy. He opened his very first chocolate shop on Robson Street in Vancouver.
Before becoming a chocolatier, Richard Purdy was a barber. After a sad event in his life, he moved from London, Ontario, to Vancouver to start fresh. He began making chocolate recipes in his home kitchen and selling them on the streets. People really liked his chocolates, and he soon had many loyal customers. In 1907, he opened his first official chocolate shop on Robson Street, which was a busy shopping area.
Changes in Ownership
In the 1920s, Purdy's company faced some money problems. To help save the business, some of his main lenders sent their best bookkeeper, Hugh Forrester, to help out. After a few years, Hugh Forrester successfully got the company back on track and paid off all its debts. The lenders were so impressed that they sold the company to him for just $1! Richard Purdy continued to make and sell chocolates from a street cart. He later opened another chocolate shop called Window Made Candy in Burnaby, British Columbia, before retiring and passing away in 1943.
In the 1940s, Hugh Forrester's son, Frank Forrester, joined the family business. They updated how chocolates were made and moved the factory to a bigger building in Vancouver. The Forresters slowly grew the company. However, in the early 1960s, Hugh and Frank had different ideas for the company's future. Because of this, they decided to sell Purdys in 1963 to two new owners, Charles Flavelle and Eric Wilson.
Growing the Business
Throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Purdys continued to grow and offer more products. At first, they only made dark chocolates, but they soon started making milk chocolates and chocolate bars too. In 1971, Purdys opened its first store outside British Columbia, in Calgary, Alberta.
In 1982, Purdys moved its factory and main office to a new, much larger building. In the early 1990s, Purdys Chocolatier introduced its very popular Hedgehog line of chocolates, which are still a favorite today.
In 2025, Purdys announced something new: they started selling their chocolates at Save-On-Foods, a large supermarket chain in Western Canada. This happened because many people wanted to buy Canadian products. It was the first time Purdys sold its chocolates through another store.
