Bayard's Chocolates is a family-owned candy shop established in 1939 in Camden, New Jersey that offers a variety of homemade chocolates and allows customers to create personalized gift boxes. They have two locations in Cherry Hill and Cinnaminson along with an extensive selection of chocolates, including butter creams, truffles, cordial cherries, and chocolate-covered pretzels. Bayard's emphasizes high quality ingredients, hand-crafted recipes, and personalized customer service to keep customers returning for generations.

1. I
n a world where high technology
is the norm and personal service a
rare commodity, the South Jersey
tradition of Bayard’s Chocolates is still
going strong.
Bayard’s Chocolates, established in
Camden in 1939 and conveniently lo-
cated on Route 70 East in Cherry Hill
and Route 130 North in Cinnaminson,
has an extensive inventory of con-
fection coupled with old-fashioned
charm.
With the holiday season upon us,
Bayard’s is a treasured destination you
won’t want to miss. Whether shopping
for that perfect Christmas or Chanu-
kah gift for a friend, family member,
teacher or business associate, Ba-
yard’s offers an array of pre-packaged
chocolates as well as the ever-popular
personalized alternative.
“Customers can come into our
stores and create a personalized box,
basket, tower or tray of chocolates,”
explained Lisa Glaser Whitley, COO.
Knowledgeable sales associates —
some with Bayard’s for more than 20
years — walk through the store with
customers and hand-pick items for
each order.
Table upon table is brimming with
chocolates of every imaginable vari-
ety: butter creams, nonpareils, truffles,
cordial cherries, pretzels topped with
jimmies, cookies and more. Dark choc-
olate, white chocolate, milk chocolate;
whatever your taste buds desire —
Bayard’s has it. There’s even an entire
room filled with sugar-free products.
And with Christmas just around the
corner, Whitley says that Santa will
definitely be making a few appear-
ances.
Specialty gifts that can be custom-
ized with candy are also a draw, such
as Raggedy Ann dolls, unique serving
dishes, festive table accompaniments
and wall hangings, even presents for
your canine companion.
“All of our candy is homemade,”
said Whitley.“We use only the highest
quality cocoa; there’s no filler in the
chocolate. And our prices are very
reasonable.” Bayard’s recently received
a SQF (safe quality food) certification.
“This is the highest level of safety in
food production and we’re very proud
of this achievement,” said Whitley, em-
phasizing that all the original recipes
from company founder James Bayard
Kelly II are still being used today.
Bayard’s employs two chocolatiers,
top-notch in their area of expertise.
Whitley’s father, Frank Glaser, owner
of the James Candy Company and
Fralinger’s Saltwater Taffy, purchased
Bayard’s Chocolates in 2004 and is
president and CEO. The James Candy
Company is the parent company to
Bayard’s, which also has a wholesale
component.
“We are still family-owned and con-
tinue the same traditions that our cus-
tomers have always depended upon,”
said Whitley, 42, adding that she is the
5th generation (on her father’s side) in
her family in the confectionary busi-
ness, dating back to Germany in the
1800s.“My great-grandfather immi-
grated here in the late 1800s and had
an ice cream and chocolate business in
Germantown.”
Suffice it to say, the Glasers have
expanded the family business and un-
derstand the importance of customer
satisfaction.
In 2007, the Bayard’s factory was
moved from Pennsauken to Atlantic
City, where the James Candy Company
has long been producing its products.
This resulted in a more efficient run-
ning operation, explains Whitley.
Among Bayard’s top sellers are their
butter creams and chocolate covered
pretzels. Whitley relayed a recent
comment from a customer, which she
describes as “music to my ears.” “She
said ‘Bayard’s chocolate covered pret-
zels are not like anything I could get
anywhere else.’”
According to Whitley, what seems to
keep customers coming back year after
year is that extra measure of personal
interaction.“Some remember coming
here as a child with their grandmother
and putting together a box of candy.
“There’s just something about hav-
ing the ability to create and personalize
your gift.”
Source: By Jan L. Apple, For the Courier-Post
Advertising Department. If you want us to write
a story about your business, call (856) 486-2503
or your local Courier-Post sales representative.
Family-owned candy shop offers time-honored traditions
Lisa Glaser Whitley invites customers to
visit the shops to create a personalized
box, basket, tower or tray
of chocolates.
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Featured Business: Bayard’s Chocolates
Table upon table is brimming with chocolates of every imaginable variety: butter creams, nonpareils, truffles, cordial cherries.
IF YOU GO:
Bayard’s Chocolates
For the holidays and year round.
2325 Marlton Pike West (Route 70),
Cherry Hill, (856) 663-2565 and 904
Route 130 North, Cinnaminson,
(856) 829-5195. Gift items can also be
ordered in advance and picked up at one
of the stores. Standard items are available
online. Visit www.bayardschocolates.com