Gift box with assorted bonbons and treats. Photo provided by Hampton Chocolate Factory. |
Now everyone can give their loved ones the gift of the Hamptons this holiday season.
And while that doesn’t mean laying out on a deserted beach in the winter cold, it does mean chocolate — Hampton Chocolate Factory, to be precise.
The chocolate company, which launched in April, opened its first retail location Friday. The Southampton, N.Y., store shares space with a shop that sells specialty olive oils, providing a one-stop-shop for specialty food gifts.
“We are very excited to have a showcase for our luxury artisan chocolates, gourmet gift baskets and luxury bonbons boxes,” Hampton Chocolate Factory co-owner Evan Gappelberg says. “We couldn’t have a better partner or a better location in the Hamptons.”
The store not only showcases the company’s products, but visitors can also try its popular artisan hot chocolate. Next summer, there may also be artisan ice cream enrobed in luxury chocolate.
Gappelberg started Hampton Chocolate Factory with his wife Caroline Gappelberg to cater to both permanent Hamptons residents and the large summer crowd.
Having moved to the Hamptons from the hustle and bustle of New York City in 2003, the couple is again experiencing a flurry of activity trying to sign up accounts and gain brand exposure. The Gappelbergs collaborate with pastry chefs to create chocolates and snacks, all of which are all-natural, preservative-free and kosher.
“The response from day one was phenomenal,” Evan says. “People absolutely love the taste and really appreciate the look and style of our packaging.”
The small company has already seen success, having been recently accepted into the Specialty Food Association and exhibiting at events around the area. And the candymaker doesn’t just use the Hamptons for its name and location; a portion of the sales go to the Peconic Land Trust to aid local conservation efforts.