Just imagine a chocolate company inspired by the story of two unlikely friends, Gabi and Lisette, who met while studying abroad in Sicily. Gabi’s mellow and sophisticated personality and Lisette’s adventure-seeking boldness created a dynamic, unique friendship. After an amazing Mediterranean summer, the two went on to live their lives and start families thousands of miles from each other. But the friendship never faded.
So once a year, Gabi and Lisette left their responsibilities at home and traveled back to Villagrazia. They indulged in wine, pasta and chocolate and reminisced about their youth. Together, they created a rich chocolate to embody their contrasting tastes and reflect the decadence and escape of their summer adventures so long ago.
Plausible? Certainly. True? Well, perhaps only in the fervent imaginations of Truss, a Provo, Utah-based marketing and design company that created the brand. And while Gabi and Lisette may be merely the muses, the chocolate is real, co-manufactured for Truss by a confectionery company based in Utah.
Using delicate Belgian chocolate, Gabi and Lisette first introduced milk chocolate, milk chocolate mint, milk chocolate espresso, and milk chocolate toffee varieties. To satiate dark chocolate devotees, it also now offers dark chocolate, dark chocolate raspberry and dark chocolate orange offerings.
In the spirit of the season, one whereby imagination rules, we asked Gabi and Lisette to provide some virtual answers to our typical Candy Wrapper questions.
If you were stranded on a deserted island with only one kind of candy, what would it be?
Gabi: I think we can both agree it would be chocolate.
Lisette: And not just any chocolate, our chocolate — specifically, the dark chocolate raspberry truffles.
What’s the last cool thing you saw online?
Lisette: Actually, gabiandlisette.com was recently named one of the top 10 Adobe Muse websites of 2014. I think that’s pretty cool!
When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Gabi: I’ve always wanted to be a teacher from the time that I was young. Reading has been my escape and my passion for as long as I can remember.
Lisette: When I was a little girl I wanted to be a pilot. The world has never been big enough for me—I have always wanted to explore every part of it!
What issues concern you most about the confectionery industry and why?
Gabi: My biggest concern is that many confectioners are decreasing the quality of their products. People do this to cheapen the cost of the goods they produce. In the end, it’s cheapening our industry altogether.
If given the chance to choose anyone, whom would you like to collaborate with?
Gabi:To be honest, I love collaborating with my best friend, Lisette!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Lisette: “Never let the world silence your passion.”
What excites you most about your job?
Lisette: What I love about the chocolate industry is that there is always room for growth.
