Press Kit

11637-0908

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Sullivan Retail Center in Veradale

506 N. Sullivan Road, Suite E

Spokane Valley, WA 99037

509.927.RMCF

F R A N C H I S E

c h o c o l a t e f l o w s i n d e e p d a r k , s w e e t w a v e s , a r i v e r t o i g n i t e m y m i n d a n d a l e r t m y s e n s e s

It’s undeniable. Chocolate holds a special place

in our hearts. Feeling sad? Have some

chocolate. Celebrating? You deserve chocolate.

Want her attention? Give her chocolate. And

the place where Naperville chocolate lovers go

to satisfy their cravings is Rocky Mountain

Chocolate Factory. There they experience larger-

than-life gourmet candies and everything

imaginable dipped in chocolate! All are made with

the finest, fresest ingredients using time-tested

recipes and traditional candymaking methods. We

feature a variety of packaged candies in upscale

boxes, decorative tins, and bags, perfect for

gift giving, holiday time and special occasions.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate FactoryComing soon to Sullivan Retail Centerin Veradale506 N.Sullivan Road, Suite ESpokane Valley, WA 99037Contact Aaron Blackmer:509.927-RMCF

Email: wa.spokanevalley50795@rmcf.comwebsite: rmcf.com/wa/spokanevalley50795

Company Facts

The first Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory shop opened in

1981 in Durango, Colorado by Frank Crail, where the 53,000

square foot factory produces and ships confections daily on

its fleet of trucks. Today there are over 300 franchised locations

in U.S. and Canada. The Company is publicly traded on the

NASDAQ exchange under the symbol RMCF.

is it love or is itCHOCOLATE?

The Peak

of Perfection

in Handmade

Chocolates®

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is best

known for its old-fashioned caramel apples

and huge loaves of fudge made in copper

kettles and cooled on a massive marble slab.

Yes, and everyone gets a sample!

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory’s new-concept

shops feature sparkling interiors, copper accents

and a cooking area in full view of the customer.

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Sullivan Retail Center in Veradale

506 N. Sullivan Road, Suite E

Spokane Valley, WA 99037

509.927.RMCF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Home is Where the Chocolate Is:Couple to Open First Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Spokane

(Spokane Valley, WA) When Rachelle and Aaron Blackmer moved back to their hometown to start a

family, Spokane had everything they were looking for—except their favorite chocolate shop. Now the

couple is filling the void with the city’s first Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, slated to open in Spokane

Valley by early November.

Born and raised in Spokane, the Blackmers are excited to bring their new chocolate store to town. It

will be located at 506 North Sullivan in Spokane Valley among a cluster of stores near the corner of

Sullivan and Broadway.

Rachelle is particularly happy to bring home a favorite indulgence she acquired when they lived in

Seattle. Married in 2001, the couple moved to Seattle while Aaron completed an education in graphic

design. Rachelle worked at a jeweler’s in a mall that also featured a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

"I would buy an Apple Pie Apple every week. I also bought Aaron chocolate for special occasions and

just because. His favorite is nut clusters," Rachelle says.

Visitors to the new Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory will be treated to a bright shop filled with the

irresistible smell of chocolate and shiny display cases filled with the trademark Bears®, truffles, English

toffee, nut clusters, caramels and more, available in signature generous portions and all made from

time-honored recipes. In addition, a complete line of sugar-free chocolates will be offered.

Cases will also be filled with fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate and crisp apples spun in chocolate

or caramel and rolled in tasty toppings. Traditional boxed chocolates, packaged items and gift baskets

will tempt as well. Rich premium ice cream will be offered, something visitors may not expect at a Rocky

Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Aaron especially looks forward to making fudge in the store and handing out samples to customers.

Rachelle enjoys making custom gift baskets and treat trays. She sees a real need for the corporate

and special-occasion offerings, from chocolate business cards, dipped-apple party trays and holiday-

themed gift items to wedding trays and customer "thanks for the business" baskets.

Rachelle thinks it will be an easy transition from helping customers in a jewelry store to putting smiles

on people’s faces at her chocolate shop.

"Fine chocolate is a lot like fine jewelry. Instead of their jeweler, I will be their fine chocolatier. I love

helping customers one on one because I can get to know them. And I love that chocolate makes

everybody feel good," says Rachelle, who worked as a jeweler for nine years in Seattle and Spokane.

Rachelle and Aaron met in driver’s education class during their sophomore year in high school and

have been together ever since. They have two children, Peter Edward, 3, and Annabelle Mae, 2. When

he’s not making fudge for the store or helping behind the scenes, Aaron continues to work as a

freelance graphic designer.

The first Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory store opened in 1981 in the picturesque Old West mining

town of Durango, Colorado, where the factory continues to create chocolates for more than 300

franchised and company-owned stores throughout North America. For more information about the

Spokane Valley Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory visit www. rmcf.com/wa/spokanevalley50795.

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Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.

BACKGROUND

In 1981, Frank Crail had a dream – to move his familyfrom congested Southern California and raise them in themore family-friendly environment of Colorado.

Not having a plan to support his dream in Durango,the quaint Victorian-era town they had chosen to settle,he began surveying the town’s local residents andmerchants. “It came down to either a car wash or achocolate shop,” recalls the father of seven. “I think I madethe right choice.” So with longtime friends, Jim Hilton andMark Lapinski, together they opened a little chocolateshop on Main Street.

Although having moved from its original location, ashop still stands on Main Street, with its sights and smellstempting tourists and locals alike to experience a cornucopiaof chocolatey treats before a breath-taking ride on thescenic Durango to Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad orafter a half-day white water rafting trip through town.

From that tiny shop downtown emerged the need fora 53,000 square foot chocolate factory located on thetown’s outskirts, built to supply the now hundreds ofchocolate shops throughout the United States, Canada,and most recently, the Middle East.

What is the recipe that has driven the company tosuccess? “The number one factor is the quality of theproduct,” says President and CEO Crail. “Without thatcustomers aren’t going to stay around long.” As atestament, Crail proudly points to a page from Moneymagazine mounted on his office wall which features RockyMountain Chocolate winning the coveted 3-heart ratingin a blind taste test. The candy maker’s chocolate beat outSee’s Candies, Perugina, Teuscher, Godiva and Fanny Mayfor the “richest chocolate, with intense natural flavor.”

“We also have a great marketing advantage with ourunique in-store candy making demonstrations,” Crail adds.“Customers smell caramel or fudge bubbling in a traditionalcopper kettle on a gas-fired stove. They can watch thecook spin a skewered apple in the hot caramel, or watchfudge being made before their eyes. That’s what peopleremember most about the experience.”

Another trademark is the unusually large portions ofchocolate on display. “This was a fortunate mistake,” Crailrecalls. “In the early days, my partners and I did not knowhow to make chocolate and had to literally learn on a pingpong table. From the start we made the candy centers toobig, not compensating for the added size and weight whencoating the pieces in chocolate. And if they didn’t lookquite right we would dip them again.” But the huge pieces

instantly caught on and have remained the Rocky Mountainbenchmark ever since.

Crail also gives credit to the hundreds of independentfranchise operators that bought in to his concept. “Theyare the ones that really make this company a success,” heremarks. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory continues toclaim high marks in surveys that rate various franchiseopportunities.

Best of all are the classic treats the visitor will find atRocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – many of which haven’tbeen seen by more mature adults since childhood. Besidesthe delightful caramel-covered apples (some stores featureover 30 varieties!), fudge is made fresh every day usingthe marble slab to literally suck the heat out of the favoriteconfection while the cook shapes it with paddles into agiant 22-pound “loaf”. A variety of fruits, nuts, pretzelsand cookies are also dipped by hand in pots of meltedmilk, dark and even white chocolate.

Fine chocolates, such as the Company’s signaturepiece, the Bear™, a paw-sized concoction of chewy caramel,roasted nuts and a heavy coating of chocolate, are shippedfresh on one of the Company’s many refrigerated trucks.Other pieces include favorites like nut clusters, buttercreams, exotic flavored truffles, toffee and a king-sizedpeanut butter cup aptly dubbed “Bucket™”. Recently, theCompany developed a new line of sugar-free and no-sugar-added candies. Results have been “spectacular”,filling a need for those with special dietary requirements.

Also featured are a variety of packaged candies intraditional boxes, decorative tins and bags, perfect for giftgiving, holiday time and special occasions. Store operatorsare happy to prepare special requests for fund raising,corporate gifts or catering for weddings or other specialevents.

In 1985, Crail took the Company public where it isnow found on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbolRMCF. Information can be found at the Company’s website, rmcf.com.

“A great deal has happened over the years,” recountsCrail with a twinkle in his eye. “I never imagined that inmy search for a place to raise a family things would turnout so sweet!”

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc.Headquarters: 265 Turner Drive

Durango, Colorado 81303970-259-0554

website: rmcf.com