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'Daffin’s Candies Daffin’s Candies is a specialty chocolate company based out of Western Pennsylvania. The flagship store is located at 496 East State Street in Sharon, Pennsylvania(1). The company has retail stores located throughout the western part of Pennsylvania as well as Eastern Ohio. The company claims that its flagship store is the “worlds largest candy store”(1).

History Daffin’s Candies was started in 1903 by George Daffin in Woodsfield, Ohio(1). After George’s death, his son Alec took over the company and relocated the business to New Philadelphia, Ohio. Paul Daffin, son of Alec, was next in line and moved the company to Canton, Ohio(1). The final move for company headquarters was in 1947, when Pete Daffin built what became the flagship store in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Pete and his wife Jean were responsible for bringing the company from essentially nothing to the “chocolate kingdom” it has become. Their first big success was the now famous Peter Rabbit, a giant chocolate bunny that was sold during Easter. Soon after the release of this hit, demand for Daffin’s chocolate increased dramatically. In response to the increase in demand, Pete and his wife moved their location to a bigger 20,000 square-foot store in Sharon and built a 30,000 square-foot candy factory that offers tours to chocolate lovers of all ages(1). Paul Daffin was also responsible for the idea to build what is now known as “Daffin’s Chocolate Kingdom.” This sweet-filled wonderland includes large chocolate animals, castles and a miniature village made of chocolate. After Pete Daffin’s death in February 1998, his wife, Jean Daffin and their daugher Diane have taken control of the company.

Company Profile Daffin’s Candies is a Pennsylvania corporation registered as Daffins, Inc. The corporation was created on June 19, 1978 with a registered office located at 496 East State Street, Sharon, Mercer County, Pennsylvania 16146. Daffin’s is a privately held company employing approximately 100 people and with a fiscal year ending in December. Corporate officers include Jean M. Daffin, President; Diane Daffin, Secretary; Jean Daffin, Treasurer; and Diane Daffin, Vice President(10). The manager of operations is Gary Sigler(3).

The Company is described as a chocolate candy company doing business in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Products offered by Daffin’s Candies include chocolates, specialty chocolates and gourmet chocolates. The gourmet chocolates are sold under a separate label entitled the Jean Marie label.

The well known companies listed as competitors of Daffin’s Candies include Godiva Chocolatier, Russell Stover Candies, Inc., and Stuckey’s Corporation(11).

Scholarship Paul “Pete” Daffin died in February, 1998(8) and five years later a Scholarship was created in his memory. The Paul “Pete” Daffin Memorial Trustee Scholarship was created at the Shenango branch of Pennsylvania State University by his wife Jean and daughter Diane(4).

The scholarship is part of Pennsylvania State University’s Trustee Scholarship Program and is awarded based on the financial need of the undergraduate applicant. The award is matched by the University(6).

Award In May of 2007, the Daffin family, as owners of Daffin’s Candies, were awarded the Mercer County, Pennsylvania Bill Knecht Tourism Award. The award is given to a local company for outstanding contribution in bringing tourism to the Mercer County area(5). Two particular aspects of the company contributed to receipt of the award; Swizzle Stick Day and the famous Chocolate Kingdom located in the East State Street flagship store.

Swizzle Stick Day is an open house held annually at the Daffin’s factory location in Farrell, Pennsylvania. Visitors are encouraged to tour the chocolate factory and are given swizzle sticks dipped in chocolate at the end of the tour.

The 20,000 square foot flagship store is home to the Chocolate Kingdom that is a well known tourist attraction in Ohio, Pennsylvania and beyond(7). Its main attractions include a 500 pound chocolate turtle, 125 pound chocolate reindeer and 75 pound chocolate frog(9).

Locations Daffin’s Candies 20,000 square foot flagship store that houses the “Chocolate Kingdom” is located at 496 East State Street in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Sharon is located 75 miles Northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The flagship store is easily accessible by Interstates 80, 79, 76 and 70 in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The Daffin’s Factory Chocolate Shoppe is located just down the road from the factory store at 7 Spearman Avenue, Farrell, Pennsylvania. Five additional Daffin’s retail stores located in Pennsylvania and Ohio are as follows: 1231 Liberty Street Franklin, Pa 213 South Broad Street Grove City, Pa Eastwood Mall 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road Niles, Ohio 39 West Liberty Street Girard, Ohio 48 Shenango Street Greenville, PA (2)

References: http://www.daffins.com/about_us.html http://www.daffins.com/location_directions.html http://www.hoovers.com/company/Daffins_Candies/rttcthi-1.html http://www.vindy.com/news/2003/feb/13/daffin-family-establishes-scholarship/ http://www4.vindy.com/content/local_regional/336096194212251.php http://www.shenango.psu.edu/Academics/scholarships.htm http://www.allbusiness.com/wholesale-trade/merchant-wholesalers-nondurable/587134-1.html http://www2.sharonherald.com/localnews/hed/9802/hed021498.html http://www.daffins.com/chocolate_kingdom.html https://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?443554 http://www.hoovers.com/company/Daffins_Candies/rttcthi-1-1njea3.html