Endangered Species Chocolate Company

809 South Pacific Hwy., Talent, OR  97540  (541) 535-2170  Fax (541) 535-4270

For Immediate Release                                              

Contact: 

Denise Gaffney Neu   206-625-0768 

Jon Stocking, president   541-535-2170

Endangered Species Chocolate Company Grabs Number One Spot as

Best Selling Chocolate Brand in the Natural Channel

Talent, OR – (July 21, 2003) – According to Endangered Species Chocolate Company founder and president, Jon Stocking, the company has edged out it’s competitors in chocolate candy sales in the natural products category.

“Endangered Species Chocolate managed to move from number two to number one,” says Stocking.  “That we have reached the pinnacle ahead of my projections is continuing proof that consumers are looking for natural products that taste good and carry an added value.”

Endangered Species Chocolate Co. donates at least 10 percent of profits to environmental organizations around the world giving customers the satisfaction knowing their purchase helps to make a difference in the world

The announcement by the Endangered Species Chocolate Company comes from information compiled from current retail sales data gathered by SPINS, the leading provider of content and consulting services to the natural product industry from point-of-sale scanning systems at natural products supermarkets.

Under Candy and Individual Snacks, Chocolate Candy, the data measures the top ten sellers.  Endangered Species Chocolate Company edged out all nine of its competitors in sales for this period.  Sales for the company’s chocolate bars grew 31.64 percent over last year.

“Our growth is a reflection of growing consumer demand for natural products, nationwide.  But our leadership position reflects the consistent quality of our product,” says Stocking.

Endangered Species Chocolate Company produces gourmet chocolate with all-natural ingredients.  The company sells 16 different 3-ounce chocolate bars in milk, dark, and white chocolates and a combination of flavors, and 4 new “Baby Bars”, smaller versions of the larger chocolates.  The company also produces Bug Bites®, bite-sized pieces of organic milk or dark chocolate containing almost 100 collectible cards featuring some of the world’s most interesting insects, and Chimp Mints, organic mint chocolate featuring 40 chimpanzees from the Jane Goodall Gombe Research Centre in Africa.  The company produces 30,000 chocolate bars and 100,000 Bug Bites® and Chimp Mints each day.

The Endangered Species Chocolate Company began producing its line of chocolates in 1993 in Talent, Oregon.  From the beginning, founder Stocking has donated a percent of net profits to organizations around the world whose mission is to protect endangered species and their habitat.  In its ten years of operation, more than $150,000 and countless product and materials have been donated to numerous organizations; among them are The Jane Goodall Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, National Wildlife Federation, and American Cetacean Society.  The company’s products are distributed nationally in natural food stores and specialty outlets.  All products can be ordered and shipped to consumers through the company website, http://www.chocolatebar.com/ – ESCC Store.

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