Baby boomers in chocolate … businesses, that is

I confess; I’m a confirmed choc-o-holic. I blame my mother; the only way she could get me to drink milk was to put chocolate syrup in it. Remember?

I am convinced that chocolate is the perfect food. I am certain that it is also a healthy food. We have all heard about the benefits of dark chocolate, right? And the gourmet chocolate industry is doing well.

Now we have “healthy chocolate.” So, can you make a living from home making/selling chocolate? Well…. that might be difficult. There are MLM (multi-level-marketing; i.e., pyramid scheme) promoters out there who want you to join them in making millions with chocolate. But can that really be possible?

Let’s say you found a wonderful recipe for chocolate. Where would you sell your chocolate? (1) At the small independent grocer? (possibly); (2) at the large national or regional chain? (much more difficult); (3) at local venues like farmer’s markets, flea markets, fairs, festivals (tougher yet, because you have to work weekends, in all kinds of weather. Not in the Midwest, thank you.

But many people are touting chocolate as a great business to start, including Entrepreneur Magazine, USAToday, and Business Week. Here is a very comprehensive list of chocolate companies.

To start, maybe you would want to go to the Ecole Chocolat, which can prepare you to become a Master Chocolatier (online!) in a couple of months.

One possibility might be a themed gift basket business, like the idea discussed on HomeBizNotes, with chocolate treats as the featured attraction. Or consider ice cream, like a Baskin-Robbins franchise. Or a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory franchise. (But read carefully and check out the franchisor before you buy.)

What other ways could you incorporate a love of chocolate into a great baby boomer business?

Photo caption:

A new study reveals the chemical in chocolate that produces known heart-healthy benefits. The research found that epicatechin, one of a group of chemicals known as flavanols, is directly linked to improved circulation and other hallmarks of cardiovascular health. The discovery was detailed in the Jan. 16 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Photo source: www.newscom.com

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