Stand Out: This Niche Chocolatier Makes Sweet Profits

October 3, 2008

Small-business owners, you deserve a moment in the spotlight. In this regular column, we highlight entrepreneurs from all over the U.S. who can answer the question: "What makes you stand out from the crowd?" We know you're proud of your accomplishments — now you can tell the world about them, too.

Michael Szyliowicz, CEO of Mont Blanc Gourmet, answers our questions:

What makes you stand out from the crowd?
People may not have heard of our name, but millions have tasted our products. We make custom-formulated blender drinks, cocoa powders and chocolate syrups that are used in specialty coffee drinks at top-tier café chains, including Peet's Coffee.

What's the biggest hurdle you've overcome?
Finding a successful business model. Mont Blanc has continually evolved over the past 20 years. We started making high-end chocolates in a basement kitchen, tried our hand at retail stores and cafés, ventured into making cocoa powders for drinks and finally found our niche in creating customized and private-label beverages for our customers.

Now, we compete against some of the biggest names in the industry and have a profitable, flexible business model that gives us unlimited production capacity and worldwide manufacturing abilities. We could double production tomorrow and not have to hire a single employee.

What's the best business advice you can offer?
Do what you love to do, enjoy your work and know that it’s never about the money. If you handle your business well, the money will come.