Sweet Treats: The Supply Chain Journey of Valentine’s Day Boxed Chocolates

Step into the world of sweetness! 🍫❤️ Did you know that over 36 million boxes of chocolates are sold in America every Valentine’s Day? That’s a TON of love! Let us take you through the supply chain journey of one of these boxes of yummy treats from production to delivery.

• Raw Material Procurement: The chocolate manufacturer procures high-quality cocoa beans and other ingredients needed to produce the chocolates. Some are filled with creams and jellies while others include nuts, fruits, and wafers — all of which require procurement strategies!
• Production: The chocolate is then produced in a factory, where it goes through various stages such as mixing, molding, and wrapping.
• Packaging and labeling: These sweet treats are then packaged in Valentine’s Day-themed boxes and labeled with the company’s brand and nutritional information. Quality testing is also performed at this time.
• Warehouse Storage: The packaged chocolates are then stored in a warehouse until they are ready for shipment.
• Shipping: Each of the boxes is shipped to distributors, wholesalers, and retailers, who will then sell them to consumers. Fun Fact: The largest buyer of chocolate boxes on Valentine’s day are grocery stores including Walmart and Kroger.
• Delivery to Stores: The boxed chocolates are delivered to the big department and candy stores where they are then priced effectively and placed on shelves for customers to purchase.
• Purchase by Customers: Finally, customers buy the boxed chocolates as gifts for their loved ones on Valentine’s Day and the cycle is complete! Now, that’s a labor of love!