Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
EASTON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The busiest time of year for chocolate makers is Valentine's Day.
According to the National Confectioners Association, 92% of Americans say they plan to share chocolate and candy on the big day this year.
Meanwhile, the chocolate industry is dealing with a coca shortage due mainly to climate issues in West Africa where more than 60% of the world's cocoa is produced.
At Hilliards Chocolates in Easton, a fourth-generation family-owned business, the pressure is on to ensure there's enough product to satisfy the insatiable appetite people have for sweets this time of year. "Valentine's Day is like the Super Bowl, and it happens all at once," said Erin McCarthy, Hilliard's Creative Director.
She said managing inventory properly is a huge challenge with some customers coming into the store as late as 9 p.m. on Valentine's Day night. "Customers want their variety right up until the very end and we need to make sure that we have everything for them," McCarthy said.
She added that Valentine's Day has expanded beyond its original scope of being a day to express love and friendship with spouses and partners. "A lot of people now come in to buy and get things for friends or co-workers," she said. "It's definitely no longer just a romantic holiday."
WBZ News Radio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.