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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Top Galleries: October 19, 2006 Dagoba sold to Hershey By Alan Panebaker Ashland Daily Tidings After five years of independently producing organic sweets in Ashland, Dagoba Organic Chocolate, LLC has sold to The Hershey Company. The Ashland-based chocolate company will continue to operate locally. In 2001, Frederick Schilling founded Dagoba in Ashland. The company has grown and earned high-profile awards in the past five years including the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2005 Green Power Leadership Award and the 2005 Spirit of Organics Award. This morning, Hershey announced the business transaction. Schilling announced in a letter today that he hopes the partnership with Hershey will allow Dagoba to continue its tradition of positively impacting rainforest ecology and cacao farmers across the world. “The Hershey Company, with its rich culture and history of philanthropy, is the perfect parent company to nurture Dagoba,” Schilling wrote. Schilling decided to partner with Artisan Confection Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Hershey Company. His letter regarding the buy-out asks “What is Dagoba’s full potential?” Schilling wrote, “As I have grown with Dagoba on all levels — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — I have learned to embrace this world of business and come to the realization that industry truly can have a positive impact on the world, if we so choose to plant that seed of good intention and nurture it to its fulfillment.” Hershey’s acquisition of Dagoba will allow the company to expand its mission and consumer base, Schilling said. Richard H. Lenny, president and CEO of The Hershey Company, said the increase in demand for organic chocolate products are growing, and acquiring Dagoba will help Hershey move up in the organic market. “Organic chocolate products are experiencing dramatic growth as consumers continue to trade up for indulgent, high-quality products,” Lenny said in a prepared statement. “Dagoba, with its well-regarded portfolio of quality organic products, will enable Hershey to build on its leadership in the North American chocolate market.” Hershey earns revenues of about $4 billion each year and employs more than 13,000 people. Staff writer Robert Plain contributed to this report. Staff writer Alan Panebaker can be reached at 482-3456 x 227 or [email protected]. Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising: Debt Help Inkjet Printers Payday Loans Free Ringtones Debt Consolidation Water Filter Security Systems Debt Relief Advertisement: Copyright © 2007 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. Del.icio.us