ABOUT US

Chocolate Works was founded by second-generation Chocolatiere and West Point Academy graduate, Joe Whaley, in 2012. Joe grew up in the chocolate business, packing truffles at night for his family’s chocolate store, 5th Avenue Chocolatiere. In 1999, Joe took over the family business and expanded the 5th Avenue  Chocolatiere brand, which grew to have a strong international presence.

 

Since 1973, 5th Avenue Chocolatiere has operated a retail store in Manhattan, servicing both retail and corporate clients. The Whaley family has been servicing some of the world’s most well-known brands with unique corporate gifts for almost half a century.

 

In 2008, Joe Whaley moved the businesses chocolate production center from a 2,000 square foot rented space in Long Island City into their own spacious 10,000 square foot facility on Long Island. To help utilize some of this unused space Joe opened a small retail store. Selling chocolate and molded items. In 2011, Joe’s wife Colleen came up with the concept to offer birthday parties which included a factory tour and use of the equipment.

 

This was a game changer. The parties were a huge hit, the retail business started growing, new corporate clients were being developed. Joe knew he had something special with this multi-revenue stream business model and over the next 2 years, Joe worked to create the right franchise business model. In 2014, Chocolate Works began franchising offering units in the northeast.

 

Today, Chocolate Works is an interactive concept transforming the corner candy shop into an experiential chocolate store. Customers can purchase chocolates and sweets, or put on an apron and join in the fun of making product. Kids and adults of all ages are invited to indulge in a hands-on learning experience of molding, decorating, dipping, enrobing and crafting their very own chocolate and candy creations.

 

 

Highlights of the First 2 ½ Years of Franchising

 

• Controlled Sustainable Growth – Chocolate Works has awarded 35 territories and has over 20 open units in the first 2 ½ years. We have not had a single unit close.

 

• New Investment Partner – to continue to support the growth of Chocolate Works and open the rest of the U.S. for development, it was necessary to take on working investor partners. The new partners bring access to human and financial capital needed to grow the Chocolate Works brand.

 

• CCSI, Continental Concessions Supply Inc. is owned by Aaron Slonim, one of the new partners of Chocolate Works. CCSI is one of the largest candy distributors in the U.S. and has 6 distribution hubs around the country, allowing for Chocolate Works to have better purchasing power for candy products for franchise owners, and the ability to distribute product to stores coast-to-coast.

 

• New Corporate Offices - In the last 8 years, Chocolate Works moved their production facility from 2,000 square feet in Long Island City, to 10,000 square feet in Valley Stream, Long Island, to a new 24,000 square foot factory and corporate office in Freeport, Long Island to support its growth.

 

• 20 open units in 5 states - Many of our franchisees have started out with single unit agreements and have since executed agreements for additional units. We have had no lawsuits, and we have no units that have gone out of business.

 

The last two years brought incredible growth and development to Chocolate Works. Chocolate Works has built and secured a solid foundation. Chocolate Works  is now ready to move the concept out of the Northeast and expand nationwide.