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2017 | Doing Business in Connecticut 69 T he success that Munson's Chocolates has achieved in more than 70 years of doing business is a testament to the power that a small business can have. e family-owned business is now oper- ated by a third generation. Karen Munson is president of the company, which has its own factory in Bolton and retail locations in Bolton, Farmington, Glastonbury, West Sims- bury, Mystic, Orange, Newington and South Windsor, as well as in the at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Mashantucket. But when Karen Munson's grandparents, Ben and Josephine, launched the business in 1946, it had much more modest beginnings. Looking back to move forward "e Dandy Candy Company," as it was called back then, was launched behind a tailor shop in Manchester and would later move into an old horse barn. e first confectionary products that the couple made were wafers and ribbon candy. e candy was made from sugar rations that they received at the end of World War II. Karen Munson's father, Robert, took over the business from his parents and he is CEO of the company. Karen Munson's husband, Jim Florence, is vice president. Karen Munson said the company's suc- cess, which includes being named Connecti- cut's Retailer of the Year in 2015, is grounded in its past. "We are a historical brand and we never forget that," she said. "We are not in the busi- ness of fads, but we recognize that the palate of the specialty foods consumer has changed. We think today's consumer is always looking for something that is hyper-local and that is a perfect for us." And while retailing is oen viewed as a business that is dominated by what is new and trendy, sticking to what a company does best is a business model that works for Mun- son's Chocolates, according to Tim Phelan, president of the Connecticut Retail Merchants Association. "ey haven't strayed from their origi- nal business model and tried to be too many things to too many people," said Phelan. "Any really successful company that has survived for generations has strong core values." And that's where Karen Munson excels, Phelan said. In addition to running her fam- ily's business, Munson serves on the Con- necticut Retail Merchants Association Board of Directors and also helps organize the trade group's annual awards luncheon, he said. Munson's Chocolates shows its support for the community in a variety of ways, she said. e company works with Connecticut vineyards to make handcraed truffles in- fused with different types of local wines. Other unique candy creations have been sold to benefit a variety of charities. A choco- late rabbit colored to look like it was wearing camouflage raised money for e Wounded Warrior Project, and s'mores on a stick ben- efitted a local children's camp. Munson said her family also recognizes the important role employees play in the suc- cess of the business. "I consider them to be the face of our company," she said of the employees. "And they believe in making our candy with excep- tionally high quality so that it will be the best product possible." ❑ PHOTO/MUNSON'S Above: Karen Munson, president, Munson's Chocolates of Bolton. At right: A sampling of sweet treats from Munson's Chocolates. Sweet Treats from A Third- Generation Family Business Bolton's Munson's Chocolates stays true to its core values By Luther Turmelle ' We think today's consumer is always looking for something that is hyper-local and that is a perfect for us. ' — Karen munson, presidenT, munson's chocolaTes