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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Hershey’s announces closing of Joseph Schmidt & Scharffen Berger Bay Area Facilities
Are they still artisan confections when they’re consolidated into one manufacturing plant in Illinois? Were they even still artisan when Hershey’s bought them in 2005? A little history: In 2005 Hershey’s started a spinoff company and seemed to tap into a new trend in the United States: small batch, carefully crafted confections. They created an autonomous company called Artisan Confections Company and into it went Joseph Schmidt and Scharffen Berger and later in early 2006 Dagoba.
But mass production doesn’t mean bad. Or at least it doesn’t have to mean it. What this meant initially was greater distribution and monetary muscle for these tiny chocolate companies. (Scharffen Berger & Dagoba are chocolate factories, Joseph Schmidt is a chocolatier.) And it’s done quite a bit for the public. Access to these varieties of products has done munch to educate consumers about the nature of chocolate, how flexible it is, how specific beans grown in a particular valley can taste vastly different to mixed beans. Dagoba showed us that organic and ethical doesn’t have to taste like the heaps of faint praise given to children who make macaroni art. But most chocolate lovers have been waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, this is Hershey’s - a company that isn’t known for the quality of its products these days or the respectful way that it treats its customers. The announcement yesterday sounded like this:
The names Scharffen Berger and Joseph Schmidt appeared nowhere in the official press release. In fact, I read over this fourth quarter report, even twittered a smidge, without even realizing what that meant. Subscale? Rationalization? It wasn’t until later that evening that the SFGate posted the news and Cammy from Munchcast popped me a note.
There were assurances from Hershey in 2005 that the company would retain its staff and location (though it did expand, I don’t think anyone can be upset by that, as they did say that they wanted to grow the brand). The sad truth is that this is merely a formality. Scharffen Berger chocolate has, for the most part, been made in Illinois for a couple of years. The Berkeley factory is a bit of theatre. Sure, it’s a working factory, but it may as well be Chocolate World for the well-heeled. But this leaves a hole, a new opportunity for the actual hand crafted chocolate makers out there. And Scharffen Berger should look sharp, there are far more than back in 2005 when it got its infusion of cash. Askinosie, Amano, DeVries, Taza, Theo, Tcho, Patric, Mast Brothers, Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, Rogue Chocolatier and Jacque Torres ... that’s just bean to bar folks in the United States. If you’d like to see Scharffen Berger & Joseph Schmidt’s roots, I’d recommend a trip soon. Joseph Schmidt (previous review) Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker (factory tour) UPDATE 1/29/2009: It appears that Scharffen Berger has already stopped the free tours, even though word is that the factory will continue production at least until April. UPDATE 2/10/2009: Joseph Schmidt is closing its doors for good, there is no shift of production. They will continue and fill orders through the Easter holiday. Though 150 other Bay Area folks are out of a job (including the Scharffen Berger folks), Joseph Schmidt himself will continue to be employed by Hershey’s. I expect that he will continue his appearances at trade shows and events, and perhaps consult on recipes. Related Candies
POSTED BY Cybele AT 1:02 pm
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Amber V on 3/23/09 at 5:15 am #
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.So much for chocolate being recession-proof.
Sadness. :(
Sadly I saw on the Fog City News list that factory tours at Scharffen Berger were suspended immediately because of fears that tour guests would help themselves to mementos. They will be missed!
Does anyone know a good online shop that sells quality candy corn worldwide? I really want to buy some but i’m in Australia…
Thank you for the informative post. This is truly sad news.
I guess I missed my chance to tour the factory. *pout*
Here in Ontario, our dollar store( Dollarama) is carrying 85G bars of the sharfenberger for 1.00!! I was stunned!! I bought 14 bars the other day. I like the 41% for eating. I havent tried the other percenteges yet, but I think they’ll be fine for baking!!
I visited my local chocolate bar in Sonoma County this weekend, and the person working the counter told me that she called Joseph Schmidt directly following the announcement and was told that they are being shut down. Not just their local digs, but the whole line is being discontinued (not Scharffen Berger, though). Does anyone know if this is, indeed, true?
We just got a letter from Artisan that they have decided to stop producing Joseph Schmidt anywhere. They are shutting the brand down for good. It was on their stationary, so it’s confirmed.
I just found your blog last week and am reading my way backwards. I am just beside myself to hear that Joseph Schmidt is closing. I never had the pleasure to try Scharffen, but I loved JS and am so sad to know it will not be there for my next visit to the Bay Area.
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