Utah Chocolate Makers Merge

Two prominent regional chocolate producers have merged to create The Cacao Group, Inc. Utah Truffles of Salt Lake City and Amber Lyn Chocolates of St. George have completed merger negotiations and combined manufacturing facilities in Salt Lake City. The new entity’s facilities are located on Amelia Earhart Drive not far from Salt Lake International Airport. Combined sales of the new company are expected to exceed $4 million for 2012.

Utah Truffles is a well-known brand to Utah residents and its products are available in hundreds of locations throughout the state. Additionally the company’s Crev brand is sold in many locations outside of Utah.

Amber Lyn Chocolates of St. George specializes in sugar free Belgian Chocolate products. Amber Lyn products are sold throughout the US and in Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia and the Philippines. Prior to the merger, Amber Lyn was the fifth largest producer of premium quality sugar free chocolate confections in the country.

The merger creates many synergies as the two companies were, prior to the merger, closely aligned. Significant savings are being realized by combining manufacturing, accounting, sales and marketing functions. The company has just finalized an agreement with Cold Stone, Inc. to manufacture and market chocolate nationwide under the Cold Stone brand.

The company is in the process of locating new and larger facilities to accommodate its dramatic growth.