The Company
In 1923, Mr.& Mrs. Russell Stover began a candy business in their bungalow home in Denver, Colorado. The original candy was marketed as "Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies" and changed approximately twenty years later to "Russell Stover Candies". Mr. & Mrs. Stover established principles that were successful then and are still carefully followed today. The three principles of quality, service and value allow Russell Stover Candies to remain "Only the Finest."
For 37 years, the Stover family and their partners operated the company. In that time span, Russell Stover Candies became well known for its quality candy sold on a regional level. In 1969, the partnership dissolved and the company was purchased by Mr. Louis Ward. At that time, the company had 35 retail stores and more than 2,000 agencies selling its candies. The company has grown from a quality producer on a regional scale, to an international company, that has sales in all 50 states and Canada. We are the largest producer of fine boxed chocolates in the United States.
What has evolved after more than half a century is an instinctive pride among Russell Stover employees for manufacturing and selling a quality candy.
The candy company, which was born in a bungalow candy shop, now sells in over 50 company owned retail shops throughout the fifty states and Canada and over 40,000 wholesale accounts, such as drug stores, card and gift stores, grocery stores, department stores and mass merchandising stores.
The Industry
The prestige boxed chocolate industry generates over a billion dollars in annual sales. Our industry has enjoyed a double digit growth rate over the past 5 years, with per capita consumption of confections approaching 21 lbs. per year. Boxed chocolates are both an affordable gift and a delicious treat for personal consumption year round. Seasonal sales are a key to success. The Christmas, Valentine, and Easter selling seasons contribute a sizable portion of annual sales
Purchasing
You are probably now asking yourself, "Just what work is involved in producing a box of candy?" It all begins with the Purchasing Department. This department acquires all of our raw materials necessary for production. The shopping list of raw materials includes chocolate, milk, sugar, fruits, dairy cream, nutmeats and other essential ingredients. By constantly analyzing the various nut, fruit and cocoa markets, our buyers get the best price for the quality raw materials we demand. Our raw materials arrive at the plants by truck or railroad car.
Quality Control
Upon arrival, the quality of our ingredients are analyzed and certified by our laboratory technicians. No compromises are made in the quality of our ingredients. Today each of Mrs. Stover's original recipes remains basically unchanged. With every new recipe which is created, the same kind of care for quality is included. Though prices for raw materials continue to rise, we refuse to change our recipes so as to retain, rather than sacrifice the quality of our candy, which is "Only the Finest."
Manufacturing
To handle such growth and demand for its candy, Russell Stover Candies owns and operates candy kitchens at four locations; Montrose, Colorado; Abilene, Kansas; Iola, Kansas; and Corsicana, Texas.
Russell Stover Candies are still cooked in small batches, the home fashioned way in accordance with the same recipes in use for over fifty years. Though a more expensive cooking process than automated ones, only the batch method of candy cooking has been able to produce flavorful candy centers Russell Stover customers expect.
Simultaneous to the production of the candy centers, tempering of the chocolate takes place. This process slowly heats and stirs our specially formulated chocolate, enhancing its flavor and gloss when it is coated to our candy centers.
Russell Stover Candies are hand dipped or enrobed, depending on each particular piece, size and weight. These processes insure the quality and home fashioned appeal our customers expect. One of Russell Stover Candies quality trademarks has always been the high percentage of chocolate applied to each candy center.
Distribution
To distribute Russell Stover Candies nationwide and deliver our product quickly at the peak of its freshness, the company owns and operates distribution centers located in Reno, Nevada; Terrell, Texas; Cookeville, Tennessee; Wildwood, Florida; Butler, Missouri and Carmel Church Virginia. Our own fleet of refrigerated semi-trailer trucks serve as the vital link between the plants and the distribution centers.
Product Development
Though production of our candy is an important aspect of operations, maintaining a varied and appealing product line is essential. It is the objective of the Graphic Design Department, with the aid of our Engineering Department, to create appealing and decorative, yet functional and economically feasible packaging.
Our product line includes a variety of candies which appeal to every customer. From the Assorted Chocolates, to the Nut Delights,and a wide variety of enjoyable everyday candies that are offered. All these assortments are sold everyday and during the holiday seasons. For Easter, from our cream eggs to Easter baskets, all are specially packaged for the spirit of the holiday. For Valentine's Day, a large selection of decorative hearts are displayed for everyone's sweetheart. Whether it be Christmas, Halloween or the middle of summer, Russell Stover Candies are a year round sweet that are "Only the Finest."
Summary
Though the Stovers are no longer here, the Russell Stover Candies family still exists. It is made up of over 5,000 people, all dedicated to making "Only the Finest" in boxed chocolates. The story of Russell Stover Candies is one of immense growth in the last decade and a half, from a small regional candy company to the nation's largest. Remarkably, the same care, quality and ingredients must go into each box of candy today as it did in 1923, in Mrs. Stover's Bungalow.
Now that you have had a short history of Russell Stover Candies, you can perhaps begin to appreciate our company's concept of quality and our dedication to making and selling "Only the Finest" in boxed chocolates. How do we keep the quality of our candy so high under such a complex and large scale operation? The answer: the people that make up Russell Stover Candies.
From the purchasing agent to the sales clerk, every employee is responsible for retaining the quality of the candy. The source of our quality candy lies not only in the ingredients, but also in the people. Our success was based, and will remain based on quality, service and value. After all, the customer is the sole reason for our job.