By LA Guzda
The Sweet Success of a Visionary Woman
Northeast Pennsylvania is home to several national brand products. Planters Peanuts was founded by Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi in 1906 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. D.G. Yuengling & Son is a brewery that is based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania that was founded in 1829. There is one woman who rises to the top in the male-dominated business world of her time.
Gertrude Hawk was an entrepreneurial woman who founded the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates company in 1936. Her passion for chocolate and her innovative ideas for creating delicious and high-quality chocolate products helped her build a successful business that has been operating for nearly a century.
Born in 1893, Gertrude Hawk grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where she was surrounded by the chocolate industry. Her father worked for a local candy maker, and Gertrude learned the art of making chocolates from him. As a young woman, she worked for several candy makers in the Scranton area, honing her skills and developing her own recipes.
In 1936, Gertrude Hawk decided to strike out on her own and founded the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates company. She started small, operating out of her home and using her own kitchen to make her chocolates. But as her business grew, she realized she needed a dedicated space for manufacturing and retail.
Gertrude Hawk opened her first retail store in 1939, in downtown Scranton. Her chocolates quickly gained a reputation for their quality and unique flavors, such as Mint Meltaways and Peanut Butter Wings. Gertrude’s chocolates were made with high-quality ingredients, and she was known for her attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction.
As her business grew, Gertrude Hawk became a respected figure in the chocolate industry. She was an early adopter of new technology, such as the use of enrobing machines to coat chocolates in a thin layer of chocolate. She also introduced new flavors and products, such as sugar-free chocolates and chocolate-covered pretzels.
Gertrude Hawk passed away in 1976, but her legacy lives on through her company. Today, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates operates more than 50 retail stores in several states, and their products are also sold online. The company continues to innovate and create new products, while maintaining Gertrude’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.
Gertrude Hawk was a pioneering entrepreneur who built a successful chocolate business through her passion, dedication, and innovative spirit. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of chocolate lovers and entrepreneurs, and her company remains a beloved fixture in the candy industry.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @PoconoSecretswww.PoconoSecrets.com