German chocolatier Ritter Sport Group has acquired Creative Natural Products Inc., the Boulder, Colo.-based maker of the Chocolove brand. Price was not disclosed.
Both are family-owned companies. Chocolove products will continue to be manufactured in Boulder. Ritter, with global operations, has estimated sales of about 600 million euros ($700 million).
“This acquisition marks a decisive step in our ambition to build a strong and influential presence in the U.S. chocolate market,” Ralf Hilpüsch, CEO of Ritter Sport USA, told the National Confectioners Assn. When he was hired and established Ritter's U.S. headquarters in Chicago in early 2024, Hilpüsch said he was intent on creating a U.S. business.
“By bringing these two purpose-driven premium brands together, we are not only expanding our scale — we are demonstrating our long-term commitment to shaping a more dynamic and competitive premium chocolate category,” Hilpüsch said.
About the Author
Dave Fusaro
Editor in Chief
Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.