“ChocoStyle itself comes from the idea of focusing on what people love best. So we asked ourselves, ‘Who likes chocolate? Men or Women? Mostly women.’ Then, ‘What else do women like?’ And we said, ‘Fashion. And what in fashion? Fashion is too vague. So shoes.’ It was just something that emotionally connects," says Virgilio Rubini, president of ChocoStyle Int’l.

The iBar is Melissa Thibeault’s baby. The Candara controller has been working on the fruit and chocolate bar since 2012.

Candy Industry Magazine recently coordinated a trip to the province with help from Virgilio Rubini, president of ChocoStyle Int’l. While there we also got the chance to visit Laura Secord, Candara, and Morris National’s gift basket business.

Lorraine Koshman doesn’t get much sleep at night. The Morris National v. p. is in charge of the company’s Canadian gift basket division and her mind is always coming up with new ideas.

It’s been five years since Jean Leclerc’s family bought the Laura Secord brand from Gordon Brothers LLC of Boston.

I’ll have full coverage of the Nashville trip in the March issue, and full coverage of the trip to Canada in April. But in the meantime, I want to take a moment to look at the people behind the companies.