Some people are known for having a heart of gold, but Theresa Germany has a heart of chocolate. As the owner of S & T Chocolates, her desire is to help people in unfortunate situations.
“Our goal is to own our own building and factory which will enable us to employ and help people. I want to design programs to help mothers get back on their feet,” she said.
The three years she and her family have operated the business, they have worked with women through the Homewood based program Sisters Helping Sisters, provided numerous teens the opportunity to gain work experience and trained others on how to operate a business.
Based in Penn Hills, S & T Chocolates started as a home based business. Considering herself a creative person, Germany, who uses her own recipe says she has always made chocolates, but never thought she would be doing it at the level she is now.
“One day she came home from a corporate position she held for more than four years and announced that she did not want to go back or to work for anyone, that she wanted to make candy,” said her husband Garl.
What was once a hobby became a full time business and S & T Chocolates came into existence.
The business that was known for providing chocolate for special events like weddings, baby showers and private parties Germany said expanded to selling in stores and small establishments. Identifying the Giant Eagle in the East Hills, Penn Hills area as the first store, she credits Debbie Hickman as giving her a start. “Our entrepreneur program students sold candy bars outside the store.” Currently S&T Milk Chocolate bars are sold in the Shop N Save grocery stores in the Hill District and Wilkens Township, the Rivers Casino, This and That Boutique in the Hill District, Just my Size and Stub Cleaners in Penn Hills and Duettus Styling Studio in Homestead.
“We are truly blessed that by the grace of God the business is getting bigger and bigger and we are making thousands of bars,” said Germany. She considers having product in the Shop N Saves and the Casino as a major accomplishment. “We sell out in the Hill every two weeks and restock at the Casino quiet often.” She explained that getting into the Casino was at least a six weeks process and that their rules and regulations are different than any of the other establishments. Aside from the normal paper work like the tax identification number and insurances she said that casinos have their own licensing and clearances. A presentation has to be made to the Gaming Commission which consisted of a tasting and them approving packaging. “The candy bars have been sold there for about a year,” Germany said.
S & T Chocolate bar varieties include plain and dark chocolate, crunch and Almond. Other noted items include Turtles, chocolate covered strawberries, pretzels, Oreos and bacon. Germany described a popular specialty item as the chocolate covered shoe with a red sole that is often ordered for special events and during the holidays.
Often encouraging her customers to be creative she said they have the capabilities to make the bars into numerous shapes and sizes and offer private labeling for groups and fundraisers.
Considering S & T a family owned and operated business, Germany said she is pleased how they have grown from home-based filling orders from referrals and word-of-mouth to a company now based in a full industrial kitchen at the Lincoln Park Community Center. Their biggest concern is keeping up with the demand. “We are striving to position ourselves for steady growth and development,” she said.
Staff include her husband Garl who serves as vice president and is in charge of sales, marketing, inventory and display management. Her son, Ryan Flowers and two brothers Williams Marlow Williams and Lon English are candy makers. The business is named after her daughter Shalynn, 13, and granddaughter Theresa, 9, who Germany describe as good workers and positioned for learning the business.
Amazed and pleased how the business has grown and developed in four years, Flowers, 19, said he enjoys working for the family business. “Working with S&T since the beginning, I have learned and grown with the company. I have gained quite a bit of experience and look forward to taking it to the next level and into the next generation,” he said.
Both Theresa and Garl are former Hill District residents. Theresa, a Westinghouse graduate has a mix of experience from the non-profit and corporate worlds. “Theresa is a perfectionist. She sets standards high and expects everything to be consistent,” said Garl. A graduate of the former Fifth Avenue High School, he has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh.
Throughout his career he said he has been self-employed most of his life and once had a desire to be involved in politics.
Combining their knowledge to operate S&T Chocolate, the duo are striving to produce a national product.
They recently received a Kiva loan which enabled them to purchase machines that pour the chocolate directly into the molds. Something Germany said is enhancing their ability to meet their demands.
Appreciative of the resources and people that are around to assist small businesses, Germany said Urban Innovation21 has been helpful and that Jackie Fielder has served as a great role model to her.
On the other hand S & T worker, Joyce Johnson feels the Germany’s and S & T are the blessing to the community. “This is a great place to work. No one knows this is a Black owned company. They are setting a great example for the young people they work with and producing a national product.”
