02.20.12
Rebecca Gelston

Name: Michael Szyliowicz

Title: Chocolatier, Co-Founder

Born: Grew up in Denver

What do you do for Mont Blanc Gourmet?

I come up with ideas for products— and I have dinner with customers.  

How did you get your start in this field?

Twenty-five years ago I learned to make chocolates in Paris, and everything just kind of fell into place after that.    

What’s the best part about your job?

The best part of my job is getting to think about all of these fantastic new products we create for customers.

What do you order at your favorite café?

Coffee black, or a mocha.  

Last great idea you’ve come across?

In my life as a "top secret" drink developer, I come across a lot of great ideas... but I’m not ready to share them quite yet! 

11.12.10
Mark Crawford

Director of Chocolate Business Development Mark Crawford weighs in on the Mont Blanc Gourmet blog with some thoughts on QuikTrip, an upscale convenient store and gas station chain located in nine states throughout the U.S. When the automatic door at QuikTrip silently opens I feel like I’m stepping 10 years into the future. I’m faced with a field of choices – all appetizing – in an upscale, yet still friendly environment. Am I hungry? Thirsty? I’m faced, but not assaulted, with great choices and prices. I have to just take it in for a minute. Could I really be in a convenience store? It can’t be. The employees look like they belong in a casual dining room, working with a clear sense of purpose. The rest of the customers go about making their purchases like this is all very ordinary – a constant flow of customers. I go over to the iced tea bar and it’s unreal. There is literally 15 feet of counter space dedicated just to the various iced tea selections. The prices start with a ‘kiddie’ size at $.69, but even the large size is very...

Beverages, Travel