[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 63 (Monday, April 17, 2023)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E312-E313] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Date: 2023-04-17
Chamber: EXTENSIONS
Mr. CLEAVER: I rise today to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Russell Stover Chocolates, a beloved American company that has become synonymous with quality and tradition. Founded in 1923 by Russell and Clara Stover, this Kansas City-based business has been delighting taste buds and warming hearts for generations. On this special occasion, let us take a moment to reflect on the last one hundred years. The history of Russell Stover Chocolates began in Denver, Colorado, when Russell and Clara Stover began making candy in their bungalow home. The newfound company, originally employing just seven individuals, was first known as Mrs. Stover's Bungalow Candies. Within one year, the Stovers were operating five stores in Denver along with locations in Kansas City, Missouri, Lincoln, Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, and St. Louis, Missouri. In 1928, with business rapidly expanding, the Stovers opened their first factory in Kansas City, where all company operations would be moved in 1932. Committed to using only the finest ingredients in their exquisite confections, Russell Stover was already setting the standard for excellence in the chocolate world. Business continued to grow in 1934, when the Stovers opened a drive- in store, ice cream parlor, and ice cream factory in Kansas City. Nine years later, in 1943, Russell Stover led the Committee for the National Confectioners Association in Washington, DC, the same year that the company officially changed its name to Russell Stover Candies. While Russell and Clara Stover passed away in 1954 and 1975, respectively, the chocolate company they had built from scratch honored their memory by continuing to bring joy and sweetness to millions of Americans. Having grown to one of the largest and most respected candy makers in the United States, with chocolates sold in thousands of stores nationwide, Russell Stover acquired Whitman's Candies in 1993. The following year,the company received further attention when a box of Russell Stover chocolates was featured in the Academy Award-winning film Forrest Gump, in which the title character quotes his mother as having said, ``life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.'' Offering a piece of candy to a stranger sitting next to him on a park bench, Forrest Gump declared, ``I could eat about a million and a half of these,'' and viewers around the world agreed with the sentiment. In 1998, Russell Stover launched a line of sugar free chocolates and quickly became the leading producer of sugar free candies in the United States. In 2002, Russell Stover was recognized for having the best- tasting toffee, chocolate covered cherries, fudge, truffles, nut bars, and sugar-free chocolates when the company was awarded six Gold Taste Awards by the prestigious American Culinary Institute. Wanting to ensure that all people could enjoy their delicacies, Russell Stover launched product lines for consumers with diabetes and those leading low-carb lifestyles in the early 2000s. In 2014, Lindt & Sprungli--a manufacturer of premium chocolates worldwide--acquired Russell Stover Chocolates and Whitman's Candies. Since then, the company has remained dedicated to its founding principles of quality and craftsmanship, ensuring that each piece of candy is a testament to the Stovers' commitment to excellence. On behalf of the 118th Congress, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Russell Stover Chocolates for having reached their centennial anniversary. Hand-crafting the finest chocolates in the heart of America, Russell Stover is an American success story worth celebrating on this historic milestone. Here's to another hundred years of delicious chocolates and sweet memories.