Every year, Asher’s and a few of our neighboring businesses gather on Wambold Road in Souderton, Pennsylvania to participate in “Wambold Cleanup Day”. In celebration of Earth Day, “Wambold Cleanup Day” is our opportunity to give back to the Earth. Asher’s goes green!

 

We have found that over the course of the year, litter gathers along our beautiful road. It not only creates an eyesore, but also encumbers the local greenery and wildlife. A few years ago, we at Asher’s decided that this was unacceptable and resolved to do something about it. Therefore, we select a day each year to dedicate a few hours to tidying up our neighborhood. Some time outdoors and a few dozen trash bags later, we end up with a road that is vibrant green again.

 

This year, we celebrated our annual “Wambold Cleanup Day” today, Tuesday, April 30^th. The weather may have delayed us a few days from celebrating on Earth Day itself, but we made it out nonetheless. From 10am until noon, our Asher’s Green Group scoured the roadside for litter. We gathered bottles, plastic bags, cardboard, and many other items and disposed of them.

It’s official! The Philadelphia Inquirer has announced that Asher’s Chocolate Co. has won the 2019 Family-Owned Business Award in the category of Midsize Family Business (Companies sized 100-249)!

 

This award highlights and acknowledges family-owned businesses that continue to not only grow and expand, but also stay true to their roots in Philadelphia. On May 16th 2019, a luncheon celebration will be held to acknowledge this accomplishment. Additionally, winners of this award will also be profiled in the following Sunday’s Business section of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

 

Award-winners were nominated by the readers of The Philadelphia Inquirer, of whom chose their selections for local Philadelphia family-centric businesses. From there, a panel of experts reviewed the submissions made by readers and subsequently selected the winners. Winners were evaluated based on a number of factors. This included but was not limited to business success, community involvement and service, as well as their dedication to family engagement in the workplace.

 

These high standards and rigorous review process makes us thrilled to receive this award. Family is incredibly important to the Asher Family. So much so that they consider all that join the Asher’s team a member of the family!

 

Spring has sprung! The sun is shining, flowers are peaking through the snow, and the weather is beginning to warm. Furthermore, with that comes bright colors to bring us out of the winter funk. So why not let those colors carry over to our Easter baskets and Easter chocolates? We asked ourselves that very same question. This spring, add in these bright and vibrant Asher’s Chocolate Co. goodies to your baskets!

Pastel Nonpareils

Firstly, these bite-sized classics are brightened up for spring with pretty pastel colors! Available in milk chocolate and dark chocolate, our tasty nonpareils are adorned with pink, purple, yellow, and blue seeds that are eye-catching and make your mouth water.

NEW 8pc. Egg Boxes

Nothing says Easter like chocolate eggs! This year, we have wrapped our tasty petite eggs in all new bright, vibrant boxes. Available in Dark Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow and NEW Milk Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel, these boxes are sure to bring a smile to every face. The packaging has striking egg designs and swirls, ornamented with neon and pastel colors, bringing “fun” back to our Easter celebrations.

NEW 1oz. Easter Egg Pails

We’ve taken a favorite, our individually-wrapped 1oz. eggs, and filled them into a clever new pail that mimics the look of an Easter Basket itself! We piled 13 1oz. eggs into these adorable bright pails to make a great grab-able snack and shareable treat. Available in Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter or Milk Chocolate Vanilla Marshmallow.

This year, be sure to freshen up your Easter baskets with cheerful, colorful chocolate treats from Asher’s Chocolate Co. At Asher’s, we love the classic. However, we also love switching things up with new tasty goodies. As a result, Asher’s brought out colorful new offerings to freshen any Easter occasion. Overall, be sure to grab all these colorful Easter chocolates before they’re gone by calling Asher’s at 855-8-ASHERS or visiting us online at ashers.com.

As always, it’s the time of month again where we recognize employees that are essential to our organization. We are proud to say our employees are family, as they have been with us for so long. October Employee Highlight, Denise Bruno, is no exception!

Denise began her employment in March 1997, shortly after moving to Pennsylvania in September 1996. For the last 22 ½ years, she has been an integral part of the Asher’s organization. She’s worn many hats throughout her time with us.

In Her Day-to-Day

Starting as a Marketing Coordinator and Executive Assistant, Denise carried many roles. Her duties included marketing, advertising, working with the sales and broker team, reporting, and more. Currently, Denise is now Asher’s Project Specialist, facilitating all new product development, from idea through production. In addition, Denise works with our wholesale customers on private label projects. She also oversees labelling production for the facility. She updates all of our price lists and catalogs, as well as up-keeping our Ross database for product masters and pricing.

Furthermore, she is the person that our consumers work with if they have a concern, complaint, or even a compliment! Her typical day consists of checking the emails in our consumer inbox, addressing each request. She monitors new products and all packaging on order that need to be completed based on production schedules. Other than that, her daily task list looks quite different depending on the day!

Outside of Work

In her spare time, Denise volunteers with the Colebrookdale Railroad in Boyertown. She also serves as the Marketing Chair of the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust. She is a self-admitted Sci-Fi and science geek and enjoys science shows. However, her dream is to get her pilot’s license!

Overall, Denise is not only a longtime and valued employee of Asher’s, she is indispensable to the company. It is for this reason that she is deservedly our October Employee Highlight! From her wealth of experience, to her knowledge of the company’s history, Denise is an important resource to Asher’s.

Thank you so much Denise for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to Asher’s! Great work!

Earlier this month, from September 9^th through September 11^th, we at Asher’s Chocolate Co. attended the 138th Philadelphia National Candy, Gift, & Gourmet Show in Hershey, PA! The show was a great success. We were able to meet with many of our customers, as well as share our chocolates with all that attended.

However, at the top of the list of fun things we were able to do was attend the 100 Year Anniversary Gala for the Retail Confectioners Association of Philadelphia (RCAP) the night of Monday, September 10^that the Hotel Hershey. Great food, great music, and great people filled the night! Celebrating RCAP’s 100-Year Anniversary thrilled us.  However, the night was special for another reason.

RCAP honored and awarded our very own Ed Lomas during the ceremony. He received the Continuous Support Award from the RCAP!

 

Kept a secret during the planning process, we were able to arrange for Ed’s family, along with nearly 20 of his longtime associates and coworkers, to attend the event in support of his recognition. It’s an honor to have someone that has been dedicated to the confectionary industry a part of the Asher’s family.

That being said, the event was bittersweet. Ed will be retiring in February 2019. We are sad to be losing such an important member of our team. However, Ed beginning this new journey thrills us. Overall, we are just happy to have been able to share in this special night with Ed and his family. We wish him all the best.

 

Congratulations Ed on winning the Continuous Support Award!

We at Asher’s Chocolate Co. are truly proud to have a solid group of dedicated superstar employees that go above and beyond. It is because of these amazing people that we have been around for 126 years! One of these superstars, and our August Employee Highlight, is Val Edmiston!

 

Val lives in Port Royal, PA with her husband Todd, and cat Fred.  She has two sons, and two grandsons, Cohen and Colt, who are the center of her world.  Val is passionate about her Eagles football and is even known to watch pre-recorded games in the off-season!  She enjoys camping, being outdoors, going for walks with her family, and of course, anything that allows her to spend time with the people who are most important to her.

Val has been an associate of Asher’s Chocolate Co. for 21 years, starting off creating products by hand. Through her years with the company, she has performed as a Packing Supervisor and Floor Manager. However, Val is currently the Assistant Plant Manager of Production and Retail Store at our Lewistown, PA location. Her passion for Asher’s is apparent to anyone who spends time with her. She is always looking to improve and expand our sales base at local fairs near the Lewistown facility.

 

Although employee highlight Val has only been working on the Centre County Grange Fair for the past 5 years, the event has seen enormous growth during that period, with 2018 being the most successful year yet! Preparation for the fair takes weeks for Val. She and her team, Helen Condron, Marty Edmiston, and Isaac Good prepare by weighing and packaging a variety of Asher’s favorites.  A variety of fudges, chocolate covered pretzels and chips, children’s novelty candies and nostalgia candies line the inside of one of the Grange buildings.  We have been a long-time participant, having participated as long as anyone can remember.

While the fair takes dedication and long work days, Val is determined to ensure that the event is a success. She loves to help show people how much the Asher’s brand stands for quality chocolates. Looking at the completely modest display of confectionary delights, it is clear how Val has every detail ironed out. From the linen tablecloths to the decorations around the case, Val has thought of everything needed.  She works all day in the factory managing the production operations, then goes to work at the Grange Fair. She spends time with the customers and community to ensure each year can be better than the last.  When the fair comes to an end, she says “see you next year” to everyone who have come to rely on Asher’s being a part of their family tradition at the fair.

We are so proud to call Val not only a valued employee highlight, but also an essential member of the Asher’s family. She has shown over the years just how passionate and dedicated she is to her work here. We could not be happier to know that she is a part of our team. Thank you so much Val!

 

We can’t believe it is already August! And that means that before we know it, the summer will be coming to a close, and we’ll be sending our children back to school. Hand-in-hand with school is also snacks! When our kids are learning and growing their minds, they need brain food during the day. At Asher’s Chocolate Co., we have all the snacks you need to keep both you and your kids happy! Check out these 5 perfect snacks to fuel growing minds.

 

Mini Grahams

Our bite size mini grahams are an awesome snack and great for kids of all ages. Crispy mini graham crackers are coated with creamy chocolate for a little bite of heaven that you can pop in your mouth. Perfect for a brain and energy boost during a child’s mid-day lull!

 

Chester’s Critters

Animal crackers have been a classic kid’s snack for years, but what happens when you coat them gourmet creamy milk chocolate? You get Chester’s Critters! A fun snack to entertain in between teaching lessons, Chester’s Critters are like a visit to the zoo. Your kids are sure to gobble them down!

 

Pretzel Bites

Chocolate smothered pretzels are our bread and butter, and you can’t get much better than these traditional goodies. But when it comes to snacking, we’ve taken these classic up a notch by shrinking their size! Sweet and salty at its best, our Chocolate Smothered Pretzel Bites are too good to put down.

 

Potato Chip Clusters

There’s not much you can do to improve on a potato chip, except for one thing: coating them in sweet and velvety chocolate. We mix the recognizable crisp of a perfectly salty chip with our delectable chocolate to transform a classic lunchtime side into a satisfying snack that can hold its own. It’s like they say: “You won’t be able to eat just one!”

 

Dark Chocolate & Jelly Grahams

Every kid recognizes the classic Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. So we’ve taken this school-time classic and coated it in chocolate for a modern twist on a lunchtime favorite. A crunchy graham cracker is layered with raspberry jelly and then coated with dark chocolate, taking a classic to the next level!

When it comes to back-to-school season, we want to make sure our kids not only learn new things, but have fun doing it. There’s nothing better to prepare your kids for a day of learning than packing a yummy chocolate treat! Chocolate is no longer just a dessert, and an Asher’s snack is sure to keep both you and your kids happy. To stock up on snacks, be sure to visit us online or call us at 855-8-ASHERS today!

Asher’s Chocolate Co. is full of some really amazing people, and our July Employee Highlight, Ben Gossard, is one of them! Read on to learn more about Ben and how he has been a valuable asset and team member.

 

Ben, his wife Karen, and son Benjamin, are from Perkasie, PA.  He loves gardening, sports, and vacationing in the Outer Banks, NC with his family. Ben also enjoys spending time with his family in their everyday life; in particular, he loves watching his son playing sports and participating in school events. In addition, his favorite place to eat is at Jesse’s Barbeque in Souderton.

Ben has been with Asher’s over ten years, since June 2008, after having worked for Howard Sales Company. He has been a valued asset to the team, and he has had such a positive impact on the customers that he interacts with! In fact, we have heard great things about Ben’s work ethic and awesome feedback from our customers, such as below:

“We would like to acknowledge Ben Gossard, our driver, for always being pleasant and helpful in any way he can be. He is a great representative of Asher’s.”

Thank you so much Ben, and great work!

The heat is high during these steamy July days. The last thing we want is for our chocolate to melt. So how can we store our candies so that they don’t lose their cool? Here are some helpful tips and tricks to keeping your chocolate in tip-top shape.

Environmental conditions can negatively impact the freshness and taste of your candies, and therefore must be carefully controlled to ensure your candy stays just as delicious as the day it was purchased! Extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity can accelerate aging and reduce the shelf life of candy products. You should avoided this whenever possible.

 

Storing Chocolate

Candy should always be stored in a cool and dry place. That being said, when transporting and storing your chocolate, it should never be in areas that are prone to wide variations in temperature and/or humidity. If you want to be technical, chocolate should be stored in a space maintained at a temperature of 55°- 56° Fahrenheit and a humidity level of 50%.

High temperatures and humidity can cause heat damage in chocolate, resulting in what we call “bloom”. Fat bloom is the seepage of fat in sugar-shell candies and melting and fusing of other confections. This essentially means your chocolate melts and resets improperly. Additionally, keeping candies at high humidity levels of over 69% can cause moisture damage to occur. This can cause sugar bloom and mushiness, limpness, and discoloration.

Transportation

Most difficultly, you should consider temperatures and humidity when transporting your confections. For example, after you purchase candy at the store, you need to consider the fluctuations in temperature and humidity on your way home. If left in the car for too long, your chocolate will melt and re-set, causing bloom. Therefore, you should always do your best to maintain a steady environment to best preserve the state of your chocolate.

Even further, you should take care to limit exposure of candy to excessive light, heat, and air. Be it in the car, or in the home, you should store chocolate away from sources of heat. This includes lights, windows, heaters, hot pipes, and direct sunlight.

When wanting to enjoy sweet treats this summer, it’s important to take this high heat into account. Ultimately, avoiding spiking temperatures and humidity is the best way to ensure that your candy stays fresh, tasty, and cool. To stock up on all of your favorites this summer, be sure to visit us online or call us at 855-8-ASHERS today!

Another month, another awesome employee highlight! Meet Rachel, a new team member that has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

 

Rachel is a local, born and raised in Allentown. She loves dogs and has a bubbly and friendly personality. Prior to joining Asher’s Chocolate Co., Rachel worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). She was a Executive Recruitment Coordinator for five years there.

This employee highlight started at Asher’s in December 2018 as a temporary Customer Service Representative, and she has been doing a phenomenal job since Day 1. In June 2018, we hired her as a full-time employee. Rachel has been an incredible addition to the Asher’s family. We could not be happier to have such a friendly and hardworking person join us. We have even heard many compliments and high praises of her work, such as below:

“Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for staffing your Customer Service Department with such a fine group of people. I am the Bakery Manager at a Giant Store, [and] call your Customer Service Department at least once per month to place an order for my store. I have had nothing but positive experiences whenever I phone. In the past a young lady by the name of Donna has been very helpful. Recently (I’ve ordered 3 of the past 4 weeks) I have dealt with a young lady by the name of Rachel.

Whoever hired her should be commended. They hit a home run! Rachel is friendly, pleasant, extremely helpful, and makes your customers feel as though they are speaking to friends. As someone who deals with the public daily, I know how difficult it can be to remain positive, upbeat, and helpful all of the time. I also know that when I call other businesses that we deal with to place orders, the service sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. My always get better when I call Asher’s and speaking to Rachel. Thank you for providing service second to none and whatever your screening process is for new hires, please continue to use it. The process works. Thank you for your time, your great service, and for Rachel and the rest of your staff.”

Thank you so much Rachel, and great work!