Lake Champlain adds second warehouse

BURLINGTON, Vt.-Lake Champlain Chocolates doubled its warehousing and manufacturing capacity when it moved into a second, 25,000-square-foot facility across the street here in July.

Final touches on the leased facility, such as setting up a wireless network, were being completed in late June, explained Allyson Brown, director of sales for the chocolate company.

Previously a distribution center for Nabisco, the building at 40 Sears Lane is across the street from Lake Champlain Chocolates's Pine Street location.

Minimal changes were needed to ready the facility for the gourmet chocolates, Brown explained. Cold storage as well as humidity and temperature controls were added. The 25,000-square-foot space here on Sears Lane will be used for shipping and warehousing finished goods while the 24,000-square-foot facility will be used for manufacturing.

"We've grown from an incubator business serving a regional market to a nationwide brand," said Jim Lampman, founder and president, in a prepared statement. LCC operates three retail stores in the Green Mountain State, and has increased its distribution with 1,200 gourmet retailers including Whole Foods Markets, Sutton Place Gourmet, eatZi's, and Dean & Deluca.

About five full-time and five seasonal positions will be added to staff the second facility. Lake Champlain Chocolates employs 103 people during the peak holiday season.

Founded in 1983, Lake Champlain Chocolates are crafted in small batches from the finest quality Belgian chocolate and select natural ingredients including local Vermont cream, sweet butter, maple syrup, honey, fruits, nuts and other natural flavors. The chocolates are kosher certified and preservative free.

In related news, Lake Champlain Chocolates opened a summer location inside a gazebo at The Vermont Teddy Bear Co. in Shelburne, Vt., June 25.

Taking advantage of the summer tourist season, the shop offers ice cream, sorbet, shakes, and hand-whipped copper kettle fudge. The store will be open daily until Sept. 7.

Lake Champlain Chocolates also introduced three additions to its Small World Chocolates line. Small World Sensations are 8.5-ounce bags containing one of three varieties of chocolate: Cherry, 3-Nut and Peanut Butter.

In its gift line LCC introduced new autumn packaging in the foliage colors of orange and russet with highlights of green and blue. Halloween items are also available.

Copyright United Publications, Inc. Aug 2004
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