Since starting De Brito Chocolate Factory in Hollister more than
a decade ago, Alene De Brito has taken the traditional caramel
apple to new sugar highs.
Hollister – Since starting De Brito Chocolate Factory in Hollister more than a decade ago, Alene De Brito has taken the traditional caramel apple to new sugar highs.
Last month, De Brito hit the big time when she, and her inspired imagination, caught the attention of the Wall Street Journal, which paid high praise to her caramel apples in a taste test that compared the candy apples of five U.S. confectioners.
While De Brito scored just below another company for “best overall,” the panel of tasters was clear in their affection for De Brito’s caramel apples.
“I was totally shocked,” she said.
For De Brito, the Wall Street Journal mention has turned into a business boon. Since the article ran October 14, the De Brito Chocolate Factory, which makes a variety of other sweets as well, has been flooded with orders from throughout the nation for her apples. Orders have increased so much, De Brito said, that she has had to hire a few more employees to help with packaging and shipping.
“The website has been going crazy,” she said. “It’s wonderful.”
De Brito said orders for her $45 Classic Collection, which was featured in the Wall Street Journal piece, have doubled in recent weeks. It includes four of the chocolate factory’s most popular apples: Apple Pie a La Mode, Toffee Apple, Earthquake and Rocky Road. The apples are shipped in a reusable, insulated cooler.
Along with more than 20 varieties of the treat, De Brito’s apples come with creative names to match, including: the Earthquake with caramel, Rice Krispies, peanut butter and chocolate; the Volcano Apple with caramel, Butterfinger, cappuccino chips and chocolate; and Pumpkin Pie with caramel, crumbled graham cracker and sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
What does it take to come up with so many variations of the caramel apple?
“An imagination that won’t quit,” De Brito said.
If caramel apples aren’t your thing, chances are De Brito makes something else that will satisfy your sweet tooth. Among De Brito’s confections are truffles, toffee and fudge, not to mention apricots, blueberries and cherries covered in chocolate.
Even before she started De Brito Chocolate Factory about 15 years ago, De Brito had started making candy. Each year during the winter holidays, she would be busy at work making chocolate covered apricot candies – the factory’s signature sweet – for the friends, employees and customers of her husband’s farm implement business.
Once demand for the chocolate apricots began to exceed De Brito’s ability to satisfy it, her next move was to start the chocolate factory.
For De Brito, it’s been a sweet business.
“It’s fun, you can’t get much better than that,” she said. “One thing, it’s never a hard sale.”
Located at 160 Briggs Road, De Brito’s has a gift shop that offers sweets and more. The factory is also open to groups for tours. For more information call (800) 588-3886 or visit the De Brito website at www.debritochocolate.com.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at
lr****@fr***********.com
