Ethel M Chocolate Factory
The Ethel M Chocolate Factory is located in Henderson, Nevada and continues to produce gourmet premium chocolate for all of the Ethel M and Ethel's brand chocolates. The company distributes their products mainly via phone and internet on their website (www.ethelm.com), although they also operate several retail outlets located in and around Las Vegas, Nevada. Also located at this plant are the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Gardens (which feature over 300 species of desert plants), and a small branch of M&M's World. A part of the factory is open to the public and visitors can take self-guided tours.[1]
Customers who visit the Ethel M Chocolates factory and cactus garden are welcome to take a free self-guided tour of the botanical cactus garden and gourmet chocolate factory to learn about premium chocolate making and the traditions of Mars Inc. chocolate making. The botanical cactus garden is also host to several community events throughout the year, including the Cactus Lighting Event hosted every November.
Ethel M is owned by Mars, Incorporated and was named after the mother of Forrest Mars, Sr. The company is perhaps most known for its fine liqueur-filled chocolates.
History
Forrest E. Mars, Sr. created Ethel M Chocolates in 1978, which opened in 1980,[2] as a project to cure the boredom he experienced after retiring.[3] According to researcher J.G. Brenner, "Forrest established the venture in Nevada because it is one of the few states that allowed the sale of liqueur-filled cordials." He started Ethel M with two of his past associates, Alan Thomas, as General Manager, and Dean Musser, as CFO.[2] Mars commissioned engineer Stephen H. Edelblute to design and build the factory, former candy factory owner Fred Dent to assist in developing his chocolates and Karen Grover, a recent research assistant.[2] Within a few years of its opening "the company had reached annual sales of $150 million, from seventy Ethel M stores throughout the West."[3]
In 2007 introduced a new line of 48 different handmade-gourmet chocolates designed by master chocolatier Jin Caldwell.[4]
In late 2007 the company responded to public demand for the classic line of chocolates by re-releasing six varieties of chocolates in their retail stores in the Las Vegas area.[3]
Other than at the factory (located at 2 Cactus Garden Drive), Ethel's stores can be found in Nevada at the California Hotel, and Gates A-E of McCarran International Airport.[1]
References
External links
Official Website of Ethel M. Chocolates