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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 19, 2006 Hershey buys Dagoba 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] . Current Comments: Another one bites the dust...bummer! Wendy - Ashland, OR - October 19th, 6:13 PM Provided that Dagoba continues operating locally, this is great news for Ashland. Corporatization would be bad for, say, the water supply, but for organic chocolate - inevitable. Congratulations, Mr. Schilling, I hope that you will continue to support high quality jobs for Ashland workers, as Endangered Species failed to do. Jay Lininger - Ashland - October 19th, 6:45 PM 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." Sounds like some wisdom and maturity. Wishing you the best in this chapter of chocolate making. You can impact the world! Lisa - Ashland - October 19th, 9:15 PM Well to me it a bummer..another corporate sell-out what I call the malling of america..every street corner in this nation is becoming like one! the independants, the mom & pops and the family care and corcern in business is flying away fast although I don't blame the owners of Dagoba for taking the $$$, who wouldn't with such a drive as greed!I just find it sad to see another small business sucked up into the heartless corporate structure! Good luck to small businesses of america Keith R ( [email protected] ) - Ashland Oregon - October 19th, 10:38 PM Dagoba will NOT continue to operate locally. There will be a quiet period of a year or two, then Hershey will quietly move it out of town. Schilling will be quietly counting his money at home. About two years after that, Hershey will quietly redefine "organic" to be something totally different. Frank - Medford OR - October 19th, 11:05 PM Keith, read about Milton Hershey & the Hershey company. Then study how Schilling created Dagoba, what challenges he overcame & why he has earned everything he has. You may be inspired to become a productive, prosperous, creative achiever, instead of whining like an envious child about "greed." Change & growth is hard, especially in Ashland, but opportunity abounds & models of excellence like Schilling & Hershey are everywhere. Poverty is an attitude! Envy destroys souls! Embrace abundance! Rich Kline - Ashland, OR - October 20th, 5:34 AM Congratulations Frederick! Now maybe you can stop working 24-7 and enjoy living in the bioregion. Derek - Ashland, OR - October 20th, 7:38 AM Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.