Thanks to Maury Thompson for publishing our story in the WEDC Market Watch column!!!
A column by Maury Thompson about economic development, business and quality of life in Warren County
Warren County Watch
A Decade of Chocolate
Barkeater Chocolates of North Creek is celebrating its tenth anniversary of a business that stated with “a total love and passion for chocolate” and has become a Warren County-based candy maker that distributes product in New York, New England, Virginia and Maryland.
“We’re doing a year-long celebration of it,” owner Deb Morris said.
About 45 percent of the company’s revenue comes from retail sales at its shop on Route 28 in North Creek, about 45 percent from wholesale sales to about 200 supermarkets, including Price Chopper, Hannaford, Tops and independent retailers, and about 10 percent from Internet sales, primarily around the holidays.
The wholesale side accounts for about twice as much product in volume as retail, but the markup is lower on wholesale, Morris said.
She attributes the company’s success to persistence, consistent quality and avoiding temporary “fads” such as chocolate-covered bacon.
“Honestly, they (customers) just want their chocolate to taste good,” she said.
Morris said there have been “a few misses” over the years, such as using soy milk and green tea as ingredients.
Sea salt, on the other hand, has proven to be a popular ingredient, and was selected by employees as a recent flavor of the month.
Morris said Warren County is a good place to do business because area residents and business owners are eager to network and to buy local products.
“Knowing your neighbors is a big deal,” she said.
Barkeater Chocolates employs eight people.
Maury Thompson covered the region for The Post-Star for 21 years before retiring in 2017. He keeps his finger on the pulse of economic development, business and quality of life in Warren County by writing a periodic column for EDC Warren County.