The new 60,000 square foot factory will begin operation in early summer 2006 and will facilitate further sales growth as the market expands.
Jeff Robinson, founder and CEO of the firm commented that interest in the company's custom chocolate bars and other business promotional items has skyrocketed over the last three years. So much so, in fact, that production facilities were being stretched to their limits.
Unable to reveal figures, due to the company's privately owned status, he said growth in the chocolate category in general was being driven by recent health studies highlighting the favourable health aspects of dark chocolate.
This year it is expected that Totally Chocolate will deliver over one million pounds of custom chocolate gifts, the largest amount of products in the company's history.
Totally Chocolate from its Washington State base uses patented technology to make chocolate with specific engraved details. This process is incorporated into the private label, fulfilment, custom consumer products, promotional chocolate as well as the corporate logo chocolate that the company produces.