The Chocolate Blues

I am truly saddened by the news that Scharffen Berger Chocolate is closing its production plant in Berkeley California.  Scharffen Berger has been my absolute favorite chocolate since its arrival in 1995.  I was so delighted that this small chocolate company was right in my backyard.  After Westley and I relocated further north to Redding, we were still fans of the company.  I used their products in my specialty bakery, proudly telling any customer the passion and love of chocolate that made the company so incredible.   Scharffen Berger sold to Hershey's in 2005.  I slowly watched my favorite chocolate disappear off the shelves, sometimes when I was lucky I caught the last few bars in a bargain bin. Something was changing, but not sure what.   Sure there are other chocolates of grand quality, but my loyalty was with the little chocolate company that could.   Westley now works in Berkley mere steps from the Scharffen Berger factory and restaurant. So the closure is feeling more personal.  We frequented the little cafe, the kids love the chocolate croissants and meringue cookies.  People are going to loose their jobs, and the industrial area where my husband works is going to loose the one great lunch spot.  Although Hershey's is merely moving the Scharffen Berger plant out of California, the chocolate has not only lost its appeal, but most importantly it has lost the one thing that Hershey, with all their knowledge and experience can never replace.  The passion and love that was once called Scharffen Berger.

Comments

[postcardscalder]

Oh dear. I'm so sad for you. Let's have blue cheese macaroni to make you feel better.

[chocolatechic]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[badSeed]

"Hershey already makes the majority of its Scharffen Berger products in its newly upgraded plant in Robinson, Ill., said spokesman Kirk Saville from the chocolate giant's headquarters in Hershey, Pa. "

See what happens when a cool local tradition sells out to a multinational corporation (Hershey)?

Eat the (chocolate) rich.