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56 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, May 2, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 30, 2005 Endangered Species Chocolate moves out The Talent-based company’s owners are relocating to Indianapolis, hoping to grow the business By ROBERT PLAIN for the Mail Tribune TALENT — After months of considering a local expansion, the Endangered Species Chocolate Co. is instead moving its production out of the Rogue Valley. The multi-million dollar eco-friendly candy bar business sells premium, all-natural organic chocolate made in its 5,000- square-foot location on Highway 99. In June it will move to a 43,000-square-foot space in Indianapolis. In January, company president and founder John Stocking sold 51 percent of the business to DZ Enterprises. Together, they decided the business would enjoy the best potential for growth if it was located more centrally in the United States. "It’s true. We are leaving Talent," said Jennifer Stander, who has worked for the company since October and is currently in the process of moving to Indianapolis herself. "We’re very sorry to be leaving Talent, but we are thrilled with the opportunity for growth. Every piece of chocolate we sell helps to save endangered species worldwide." She said the company has outgrown its Talent facilities. The administrative offices are already in the process of moving to the new location in Indiana. While the famous chocolate is still being made in Talent, that part of the operation will move to Indiana as well by June. Advertisement The company’s 22 employees in Talent have been given the option of moving with the company, said Stander. She has agreed to move and said, so far, she finds Indianapolis just as nice as Southern Oregon. "It will simply be a different work environment," she said. "The people (in Indianapolis) are just as socially and environmentally responsible as the people of Ashland are." Stander said the company plans to double its sales production as a result of the move. "Our partnership came about with the expectation of growing the company at a fairly quick rate," Stander said. "We’d like to diversify the product and move into a more national market." Stocking, who still lives in Ashland, created the company in 1993. Since then, it has grown into one of the most recognizable brands of environmentally-aware marketed candy in the country. Last year, the company grossed close to $5 million, Stander said. Stocking had hoped to be able to move the business to Ashland — and Stander said several local investors had approached him about the idea. But, ultimately, the offer by DZ Enterprises was the "best fit." DZ Enterprises is a privately owned family company operated by Randy Deer and Wayne Zinc. Robert Plain is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. He can be reached at 482-3456 or [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Paris Hilton Online Poker Auto Insurance Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Advertisement s