Cleveland natives have reason to celebrate as two venerable family-owned brands, Malley's Chocolates and Heinen's Grocery Store, have entered into a sweet partnership. Starting tomorrow, Malley's Chocolates will be available for purchase across Northeast Ohio at Heinen's locations, making it the first time these confections are sold outside of Malley's own shops, Crain's Cleveland reports.
With this collaboration, consumers will enjoy convenient access to a range of Malley's products. These will include a variety of candy bars, chocolate-covered pretzels, and seasonal Easter offerings such as marshmallow eggs and chocolate rabbits, both in-store and online. The partnership, unexpectedly birthed at a family business event last fall, is built on a solid foundation of combined 186 years of business history in Cleveland, shared between both companies. Cited by WKYC interview, Mike Malley, Chief Strategic Officer of Malley’s Chocolates, expressed great enthusiasm about sharing "our passion for quality and tradition with even more customers."
Heinen's is not new to showcasing local staples; its shelves also feature products from other prominent local companies like Mitchell's Ice Cream and Pierre's Ice Cream. According to a statement obtained by Crain's Cleveland, Kimberly Heinen, Packaged Goods Director at Heinen's, spoke of the store's commitment to partnering with local vendors and aiding in bringing food brands to life, adapting product sizes for the grocery setting, such as offering an eight-count packaging rather than a 15-count one to achieve the right price for grocery retail.
Not just limited to Easter, Malley's is already planning ahead for Christmas product offerings in Heinen's stores. This collaboration highlights the interesting blend of tradition and innovation that propels nearly century-old family businesses to explore new markets and customer experiences, which was echoed by Heinen, as portrayed in the Crain's Cleveland report. Shoppers in Northeast Ohio can mark their calendars for March 19 to find these beloved Cleveland confections at their local Heinen's.
