Rising costs and tariffs not so sweet for South Bend Chocolate Company

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- One of Michiana’s sweetest staples is facing some bitter challenges.

The South Bend Chocolate Company is feeling the impact as global prices for cocoa, coffee, and sugar reach all-time highs, and potential new tariffs threaten to make things worse.

Founder and President Mark Tarner gave ABC57 a look inside the company’s new chocolate factory on its 90-acre campus, home to the Indiana Dinosaur Museum, a bison ranch, and the Public House restaurant.

“People say, You’re an American company, this doesn’t affect you.’ That’s not true,” Tarner said. “Chocolate comes from Africa, sugar comes from overseas,” said Tarner.

Despite a dramatic boost in sales and production last year, the company lost money for the first time in its history. Tarner says cocoa prices jumped 150 percent, and while the company has tried to absorb the cost, some of it has had to trickle down to customers.

“In the first 25 years, I raised prices three times. In the last six or seven years? Five times,” he said.

He’s now urging policymakers to step in and help stabilize prices before more local businesses are forced to make difficult decisions.

Still, there’s something to celebrate, The Indiana Dinosaur Museum will celebrate its first birthday Friday, where they will announce its first-year visitor numbers.