Baron’s Bold Move: How the Polish candymaker is conquering the U.S. chocolate market
The Millano Group's decision to establish a North American subsidiary, which eventually launched Baron Chocolatier, has struck a chord with mainstream consumers looking for affordable premium chocolates.
Krzysztof Kotas is no stranger to hard work. Nor is he afraid to make a decision or to take a risk. And he certainly has a knack for timing. As a result, he’s created — virtually from wafer batter — the multimillion-dollar Millano Group, which now stands poised to change the chocolate landscape in the United States.
The history behind Kotas’ and the Millano Group’s success doubles as a Polish Horatio Alger novella. As a 15-year-old, he was already helping his mother make wafers in the basement of their rented home just outside of Poznan, Poland in order to help the family earn a living. Kotas was also attending culinary school at the time.