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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
I've always wanted to meet the famous Mrs. Cavanaugh. Well, I did, and the pleasure was all mine. Her chocolate is one of the finest Utah has to offer. The moment I walked into her store, she greeted me with a smile that melted my heart, about as much as I wanted one of her "Mindy Mints" to melt in my mouth. Assorted truffles, toffees, clusters and creams were calling my name -- I felt like a little boy on Christmas morning!
As a matter of fact, Christmas is part of the reason Mrs. Cavanaugh brings us her chocolate, or what she calls the "Gift Delicious." Born and raised in West Jordan, Mrs. Cavanaugh used to watch her mother milk a Jersey cow named Brownie. Her mother would teach Mrs. Cavanaugh how to use Brownie's rich cream combined with caramelized sugar to make fudge, especially around Christmas time.
After Mrs. Cavanaugh met and married her husband, George, they moved to South Dakota where she continued the tradition of making chocolates for Christmas. Her neighbors were eager to get on her gift list and even encouraged her to start a candy business. Mrs. Cavanaugh liked the idea and approached the bank for a loan with a box of her chocolates in hand. The banker thought her chocolates were too delicious to deny her the loan. In fact, he was her first customer, ordering 200 pounds for the bank.
Forty years later, many banks, corporations and hotels order Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolates in bulk for gifts, awards or complimentary pillow treats. More importantly, her chocolates are for everyone and for every occasion. She has several stores throughout Utah including one that recently opened in Foothill Village. Come Thanksgiving, she'll open another store in the ZCMI Center and one in the University Mall.
In addition to her growing business, Mrs. Cavanaugh's chocolates have been rated among the top ten best chocolates made in America.
My visit with Mrs. Cavanaugh was like heaven. I left her store with a hearty hug, a handful of her famous old-fashioned yummies and the desire to return again soon.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
