What Gertrude Hawk Chocolates does

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates is a privately held, family-owned chocolate confectionery manufacturer and retailer founded in 1936 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The company operates a single manufacturing facility in Dunmore, PA, producing hand-crafted chocolates using traditional methods such as copper kettles and marble slabs, with a proprietary signature cocoa blend. Its product portfolio centers on bite-sized "Smidgens," gourmet candy bars, hand-dipped specialties (caramel apples, chocolate-covered pretzels, rice krispie treats), gift baskets, and seasonal items; the entire catalog is Kosher Certified.

The company operates four distinct revenue channels. Direct-to-consumer sales flow through the company e-commerce site (gertrudehawkchocolates.com) and physical retail shoppes in the Dunmore/NE Pennsylvania region. A school and non-profit fundraising program allows organizations to sell candy bars and brochure-based offerings with 50%+ profit margins, no upfront cost, and 48-hour fulfillment. A corporate gifting program targets B2B bulk buyers. A points-based loyalty program ("Goodies Rewards") supports repeat consumer purchases. The fundraising channel, which has operated since 1948 and includes multi-decade partner relationships (e.g., Holy Childhood partnership spanning 38 years and over $4.2M in cumulative fundraising impact), functions as a distributed community sales force that differentiates the company from regional and national confectionery competitors.

Gertrude Hawk has remained under continuous family ownership since founding, with no recorded outside investment, acquisitions, or public-market activity. The company employs 101-250 people and serves customers within the contiguous United States, with strongest presence in the Northeastern US. Distribution mixes its owned e-commerce storefront, retail shoppes, a community-driven fundraising channel (online and door-to-door), and a direct corporate sales motion; marketing spans email, organic social, SEO/content ("Discover Goodness" blog), and seasonal promotional campaigns (e.g., Prime Day Deals).

Name

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates

Legal name

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates Inc.

Website

https://gertrudehawkchocolates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates is a family-owned chocolate confectionery manufacturer and retailer founded in 1936 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, producing hand-crafted chocolates sold through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, physical retail shoppes, a school and non-profit fundraising program, and a corporate gifting channel across the contiguous United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Chocolate Confections

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate (311352), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Confectionery Manufacturing (Chocolate, Candy, Gum) (AFAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA), Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery (CRAHAGAH), Specialty Food Gift Shops & Hampers (CRAHAGAN)

Keywords

• Premium chocolate confections
• Hand-dipped chocolates
• Chocolate fundraising programs
• Corporate chocolate gifts
• Kosher certified chocolates

Headquarters

HQ city

Scranton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: E-commerce and physical retail shoppe sales of chocolate products to individual consumers. Products include Smidgens, candy bars, hand-dipped specialties, gift baskets, and seasonal items.
2. Fundraising Programs: Wholesale chocolate bar and brochure programs sold by schools and non-profits. Organizations earn 50% or more profit on each sale. Candy Bar Program available year-round with low minimums (16 carriers/48 bars) and free shipping on 20+ carriers.
3. Corporate Gifts: B2B corporate gift sales for businesses, employees, and events. Customizable gift options for bulk orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates manufactures and sells premium hand-crafted chocolate confections including Smidgens, candy bars, hand-dipped specialties (e.g., dipped strawberries, caramel apples, pretzels), gift baskets, fudge, cookies, and seasonal items. Products are sold direct-to-consumer through company-owned e-commerce and physical retail shoppes, through a corporate gifting program, and via a school and non-profit fundraising channel where organizations earn 50%+ profit margins selling the chocolates.

Product overview

Gertrude Hawk Chocolates operates as a multi-channel chocolate confectionery business comprising retail, fundraising, and wholesale operations. The core product portfolio includes Smidgens (signature bite-sized chocolate pieces), Candy Bars (gourmet chocolate bars in multiple flavors), Hand-Dipped Specialties (artisan items like chocolate-dipped strawberries and caramel apples), Gift Baskets & Sets, and various seasonal and specialty items. The retail division sells directly to consumers through physical shoppes and an e-commerce platform. The fundraising division provides schools and nonprofit organizations with chocolate products to sell, offering 50%+ profit margins through brochure and candy bar programs. The company also operates a corporate gifting service and maintains a loyalty program (Goodies Rewards) for repeat customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goodies Rewards: Customer loyalty and rewards program offering points for purchases, birthday bonuses, and status levels.
• Smidgens

Products and services

• Smidgens Signature bite-sized chocolate pieces in multiple flavors including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Pretzel Smidgens, and Sweetheart Smidgens. Sold individually and in value packs (e.g., 2 for $32 promotion).
• Candy Bars Gourmet chocolate bars in multiple flavors including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and fruit fillings (e.g., Dark Chocolate Raspberry 5-pack at $2.29 per bar). Sold individually and in multi-pack formats.
• Hand-Dipped Specialties Artisan chocolate-dipped treats including chocolate-dipped strawberries, caramel dipped apples, chocolate-covered pretzels, and rice krispie treats. Handcrafted daily in shoppes using traditional copper-kettle and marble-slab methods.
• Gift Baskets, Towers & Sets Curated chocolate gift collections featuring assortments of Gertrude Hawk chocolates, suitable for holidays, celebrations, and corporate gifting.
• Chocolate Packs Pre-packaged assortment boxes of assorted chocolates suitable for gifts and personal consumption.
• Fresh Fudge Freshly made chocolate fudge in various flavors, available seasonally.
• Cookies Chocolate-covered cookies and cookie-based confections including Milk Chocolate Covered Chocolate Cream Cookies (6 oz package with optional pastel confetti sprinkles at $12.99).
• Gertrude's Best Assorted Chocolates Signature curated assortment of Gertrude Hawk's finest chocolate creations in various formats.
• Teenie Poppers Small bite-sized chocolate pieces, part of the From Gertrude's Kitchen product line.
• Savvy Sweets Value-priced chocolate assortment at $13.99, offering budget-friendly options.
• Caramel Dipped Apples Fresh granny smith apples dipped in thick, smooth caramel with optional chocolate coatings and toppings. Freshly prepared the day they are shipped.
• Hand-Dipped Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat Nostalgic rice krispie treats made with marshmallows and crispy rice cereal, hand-dipped in milk or dark chocolate with optional sprinkles, at $3.99 each.
• Holiday Gifts Seasonal gift collections for holidays including Valentine's Day, Easter, Father's Day, and other celebrations.
• Candy Bar Fundraiser Year-round fundraising program where schools, non-profits, and community organizations sell gourmet chocolate bars, earning 50% or more profit on every sale. No upfront cost; low minimums (16 carriers / 48 bars); free shipping on 20+ carriers; 48-hour fulfillment.
• Spring Brochure Fundraiser Seasonal fundraising program with physical brochures for spring campaigns, where organizations sell Gertrude Hawk chocolates and earn 50%+ profit.
• Holiday Brochure Fundraiser Seasonal fundraising program for the holiday season with physical brochures, where organizations sell Gertrude Hawk chocolates and earn 50%+ profit.
• Corporate Gifts Program Bulk corporate gifting program for businesses to purchase Gertrude Hawk chocolates for employees, clients, and corporate events. Customizable gift options for bulk orders with a dedicated contact channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Organizations earn 50%+ profit on every candy bar sale
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Holy ChildhoodnotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-denominational non-profit agency serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Long-term fundraising partner for 38 years, raising nearly $65,000 annually and over $4.2 million total through Gertrude Hawk's chocolate fundraising programs.
• Schools, Non-Profits, and Community OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHundreds of schools, non-profit and community organizations partner with Gertrude Hawk for fundraising. Organizations earn 50%+ profit on sales with no upfront cost. Programs include Candy Bar Fundraiser, Spring Brochure Fundraiser, and Holiday Brochure Fundraiser.
• Diamond City Figure Skating ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYouth sports organization using Gertrude Hawk's Candy Bar Program for fundraising. Testimonial indicates strong customer satisfaction with product demand and seller ease.
• Cincinnatus Middle SchoolminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational institution using chocolate fundraising program. Testimonial: 'Chocolate is flying out the door. Please ship more as soon as possible!'

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• See's Candies: Premium boxed chocolate retailer/manufacturer with a heritage brand, owned retail shoppes, and a fundraising/gifting orientation. Closely matches Gertrude Hawk's premium positioning and multi-channel go-to-market.
• Ethel M Chocolates: Premium boxed chocolate maker with company-owned retail shoppes and a heritage/craft positioning. Closely matches Gertrude Hawk on craft narrative, retail shoppe model, and gift basket assortment.
• World's Finest Chocolate: Direct competitor in chocolate fundraising for schools and non-profits. Operates a near-identical fundraising channel targeting the same institutional buyers, making it Gertrude Hawk's most direct channel peer.
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory: Specialty chocolate retailer/manufacturer with company-owned and franchised retail locations selling premium chocolate products. Comparable in retail format and premium positioning, though with a franchised model.
• Russell Stover Chocolates: Major US boxed chocolate and seasonal confectionery maker with broad retail distribution and a strong gifting portfolio. Comparable on product mix (boxed assortments, seasonal) and target occasions.
• Whitman's Chocolates: Heritage US boxed chocolate brand historically focused on seasonal/assortment gift boxes. Comparable on product format (boxed assortments, seasonal gift packs) and gifting use cases.

Broad incumbents

• Ghirardelli Chocolate Company: Premium US chocolate brand with national retail distribution and a strong gifting/specialty product line. Competes with Gertrude Hawk in the premium boxed chocolate and gift categories.
• Hershey Company: Largest US chocolate manufacturer with mass-market and premium sub-brands, national distribution, and significantly larger marketing spend. Broad incumbent competing in the same chocolate category but at far greater scale.
• Lindt & Sprüngli: Global premium chocolate brand with broad retail footprint and strong gifting portfolio. Comparable premium positioning but operates at much larger scale with global distribution.

Emerging players

• Compartés Chocolatier: Los Angeles-based craft chocolatier with a strong DTC e-commerce presence and brand-forward marketing. Represents the type of digitally native craft entrant encroaching on the premium boxed chocolate category Gertrude Hawk competes in.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gertrudehawk
• Facebookfacebook.com/gertrudehawkchocolates
• Instagraminstagram.com/gertrudehawkchoc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gertrude Hawk Chocolates