Innovating Through Legacy

Purdys Chocolatier has been Canada's Chocolatier since 1907. As a proud, family-owned company, they make a wide range of chocolate gifts from premium ingredients and sustainable cocoa. Community and people are at the heart of Purdys Chocolatier, and together with their Purple Partnerships initiative and Seasonal Fundraising Program, they find opportunities to support, advocate and craft more kindness. For more information about Purdys Chocolatier, visit https://www.purdys.com.

1. What does innovation mean to you? How do you and your team generate new ideas?

Innovation is an integral part of being Canada’s Chocolatier. We are so privileged to live in such a rich and culturally diverse country. One of the many benefits of this is that we’re exposed to global food and confectionary trends. We also get to learn about a range of cultural celebrations and gifting occasions and help provide chocolate gift solutions for them.

We recently launched Purdys Dubai Bark in select Purdys Chocolatier shops across Canada. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from customers! Numerous Purdys Chocolatier shops have sold out and we’re actively working to craft more in our chocolate factory. We’re also proud to offer a collection of Eid gifts, including our Eid Mubarak Gift Box and Dark Chocolate Dates. It's been wonderful to see the positive response to these new Purdys Chocolatier additions.

2. Purdys Chocolatier has been a Canadian and family-owned business for over a century. How has that heritage shaped the company’s values and approach to chocolate-making today?

Purdys Chocolatier’s heritage as a proud Canadian, family-owned business has profoundly shaped our values and approach to chocolate-making. For over 118 years, Purdys Chocolatier has remained deeply rooted in our Canadian origins, beginning with Richard Carmon Purdy opening the first Purdys Chocolatier shop at 915 Robson Street in Vancouver, BC in 1907. Richard Carmon Purdy believed in serving customers only the highest quality chocolates and confections made from premium quality ingredients. This is our approach to crafting chocolate to this very day. We’re proud to make all our chocolates in Vancouver, BC, and use only the finest ingredients and sustainable cocoa.

3. With over 100 years of history, Purdys Chocolatier has seen generations of Canadians enjoy its chocolates. Are there any iconic recipes or traditions that have remained unchanged since the early days?

Purdys Chocolatier has several iconic recipes that have remained unchanged since the early days. The most notable is our caramel recipe which was first created by Richard Carmon Purdy in 1907. This recipe has been a cornerstone for Purdys Chocolatier, and we still use the same recipe today. If you’ve ever enjoyed a Purdys Himalayan Pink Salt Caramel, you’ve tasted caramel made from our original 1907 recipe! We added Himalayan pink salt to our classic vanilla caramel and it’s become one of our most beloved chocolates. We think the secret is staying true to Richard Carmon Purdy’s recipe.

4. Heritage is a big part of Purdy Chocolatier's identity. How do you balance tradition with innovation to keep the brand fresh while staying true to its roots?

As a 118-year-old Canadian company, staying true to our heritage is important to us at Purdys Chocolatier. Charles Flavelle purchased the business in 1963 when it was just 3 chocolate shops in Vancouver, BC on Robson Street, Granville Street, and at Park Royal Shopping Centre. Since 1963, Purdys Chocolatier continues to be a family-owned company. Through it all, engaged family ownership has helped us think long-term and live our core values. We believe in making only the finest chocolates with premium ingredients. We are Canadian-made, Canadian-owned, and Canadian-managed. We are passionate about being a part of people’s celebrations and life moments. Our business is built around respect, support and compassion for our people, our partners and our customers.

This solid foundation as a business is what allows us to continue to innovate with our chocolates, while remaining true to who we are. A great example of this is how in Christmas of 2021, we created the first Braille chocolate box. We created an accessible box of Purdys Chocolatier chocolates designed specifically for, and with consultation from, the blind and partially sighted community.

In recent years, we’ve also developed a collection of Purdys Chocolatier vegan chocolate in response to changing dietary needs and preferences in Canada. We craft plant-based versions of our bestselling chocolates such as Vegan Mylk Sweet Georgia Browns and Vegan Hawaiian Black Salt Caramels. It’s innovation that allows new and existing customers to experience Purdys Chocolatier.

5. Purdys Chocolatier's commitment to sustainable cocoa is a key part of its story. How does this choice reflect the company’s long-standing values, and what impact has it had on farmers and communities?

There are so many great reasons to feel good about enjoying Purdys Chocolatier chocolate; supporting sustainable cocoa is one of them. We pay a premium to source sustainable cocoa to protect nature and children and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and their communities through the promotion of sustainable, entrepreneurial farming, improved productivity, and community development. Since 2016, we’ve paid over $1.1 million in premiums to our partner, Cocoa Horizons, which go directly to support our cocoa farming partners.

6. Looking to the future, how will Purdys Chocolatier continue to be a leader in innovation?

At Purdys Chocolatier, there’s no shortage of inspiration and innovation. We’re constantly inspired by our customers and the people who live in Canada. We like to say we move at the pace of our customers, and this is a challenge (and opportunity) in and of itself as the demographics of Canada change.

It's our solid brand foundation that allows us to constantly innovate. We are the most recognized Canadian chocolate brand, which is something we celebrate everyday! And in countless blind taste tests, we’ve discovered that Canadians choose and prefer the taste of our chocolate time and time again. We are driven to continue to provide the best tasting, premium quality chocolate that Canadians can enjoy sharing with their loved ones for generations.

How can we excite and bring joy to people across Canada as they enjoy Purdys Chocolatier? How can we entice new customers to try Purdys Chocolatier? What new traditions and life moments can we be a part of? These are the questions we ask ourselves everyday and inspire us to find new and innovative ways to be Canada’s Chocolatier.