From landing on Walmart’s shelves, to presenting a personalized box to Martha Stewart, one local chocolate company is seeing sweet success with its innovative creation.
Located in Leonardtown, Bon AppéSweet is redefining what it means to be in the chocolate business. The company was founded by Thereasa Black, a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, who was determined to start her own business in order to stay close to family.
“In 2018, I deployed for 13 months when my daughter was only 2 years old,” said Thereasa. “I cried every day and knew that I could never deploy again. So, I came home and launched a ‘better for you’ dessert company as a promise to my daughter that I would never deploy again.”
But in addition to wanting to stay home with her daughter, Thereasa started her company with the goal of providing a healthy snack alternative.
What might surprise customers is that Bon AppéSweet’s products are plant-based and dairy-free; its chocolate bars only contain three or four ingredients, including cocoa powder, cocoa butter, and dates, a fruit that provides natural sweetness. With zero added sugar, these hand-crafted chocolate bars are filled with vitamins and antioxidants.
“I have always been strict about my daughter’s diet and never gave her cane sugar,” said Thereasa, who explains the routine changed when she was deployed overseas. “I decided that this was the best business to start because I could give my daughter the best of both worlds—the treats that she had fallen in love with and the ingredients that I love.”
After meeting her husband, Thereasa packed up and moved from Virginia to Southern Maryland, where she eventually opened her storefront and manufacturing operation.
“Our half-way meeting point was National Harbor. After I visited him in St. Mary’s County a few times, I fell in love with the area and we decided that we would build our life there,” she said. “Family is the most important thing in my life and that’s why we make sure that our employees are paid well and that families have a place to hang out. We are 100% kid friendly with a play area and we encourage people to come to our shop and enjoy family time.”
Since leaving active duty and achieving a law degree, Thereasa has achieved impressive success with her small business in Southern Maryland. After being selected at a Walmart startup competition, Thereasa’s product was chosen to be sold in stores—and is now located in nearly 400 Walmarts. Bon AppéSweet’s chocolate bars are now also sold in Whole Foods and Mom’s Organic, and will soon be located in Sam’s Club.
“Whatever your dreams, don’t stop believing in yourself—no matter what obstacles may come into your path,” she said. “When I decided to start my own business, people assumed that I wasn’t qualified to do anything else. Now my chocolate is sold in stores across the country. People have doubted me every step of the way, but I have seen it, I have lived it, and I know what is possible.”
