Niel Campbell, President of Seattle Chocolate Company, is Named to the National Confectionery Association’s Chocolate Council
September 25, 2008
(Seattle, WA – September 25, 2008) – Niel Campbell, president of Seattle Chocolate Company, has been named to the National Confectionery Association’s (NCA)Chocolate Council.
The Chocolate Council 's mission is to serve as the voice of the American chocolate industry, and through research, education and information, works to ensure a continued supply of cocoa and consumption of high value and quality chocolate products for the American people. The Council also provides direction to NCA on matters involving the global cocoa supply chain.
Earlier this year the Chocolate Manufacturers Association merged into the National
Confectionery Association, which then created the Chocolate Council, because the two
groups were very closely aligned in all issues concerning chocolate. Campbell is serving
on the very first Chocolate Council, which will convene for the first time this month.
“I am honored to be named to the first Chocolate Council and to be working with a very
distinguished group of individuals setting standards for the industry,” Campbell said.
In addition to Campbell, the following members from chocolate using and processing
companies were named to the Council:
Mr. Dennis Whalen- ADM Cocoa
Mr. Jerry Hagedorn- Barry Callebaut
Mr. Pierson E. Clair- Brown & Haley
Mr. David Taiclet- Fannie May Confections Brands, Inc.
Mr. Steve Genzoli- Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Mr. Neil Turpin- Green and Black's USA, Inc.
Mr. Gary W. Guittard- Guittard Chocolate Company
Ms. Mary Myers- Mars Snackfood U.S.
Ms. Louise Hilsen- Nestle USA, Inc.
Mr. Daniel Trott- Russell Stover Candies, Inc.
Mr. Peter Blommer- The Blommer Chocolate Company
Dr. Dan Azzara- The Hershey CompanyMr. Patrick Huffman- The Warrell Corporation
Mr. Edmond Opler- World's Finest Chocolate, Inc.
Mr. Patrick Zachary- Zachary Confections, Inc.
Mr. Larry Graham- National Confectioners Association
Ms. Susan Smith- National Confectioners Association
Mr. Bill Guyton- World Cocoa Foundation, ex-officio
More about Niel Campbell and Seattle Chocolate Company:
Niel Campbell joined Seattle Chocolate Company as its president in August of 2003.
Since then, he has played a crucial role in effectively overseeing and managing
manufacturing operations for the company. To date, Campbell has guided the company to
triple in size and scaled the infrastructure and capacity to keep pace. He has moved the
company into a facility that is three times the prior size without missing a beat, and he
instituted a KANBAN, which is a Japanese inventory management system that keeps
pace with the company’s 150+ SKU’s and thousands of customers, while keeping the
product fresh and reducing waste at season’s end.
Campbell spent 11 years at Microsoft Corp. as a member of its international product
development team serving in Europe, Malaysia, China, and Thailand prior to joining
Seattle Chocolate Company. He has a BS degree in Engineering from BYU.
CEO Jean Thompson said, “Niel’s enthusiasm and passion for Seattle Chocolate
Company never cease to amaze me and are contagious among all our employees. The
NCA chose well in electing Niel to serve on the Chocolate Council because he cares
deeply about the industry and category and will generously share his experience and
energy with all the council members.”
Seattle Chocolate Company manufactures premium 100 percent, all natural truffles,
truffle bars, dessert shells, and chocolates under the Seattle Chocolates and Chick
Chocolates brands, along with a wide range of private label brands. While the art of fine
chocolate is the company’s undeniable passion, the biggest thrill is being able to share
Seattle Chocolates with customers and have fun along the way. Seattle Chocolate
Company uses the finest European chocolate and the purest, 100% all-natural flavorings.
Blending together the world's highest-quality ingredients, expert chocolatiers craft a
meltaway masterpiece that satisfies like no other. Seattle Chocolate Company products
are beautifully packaged in stunning gift boxes and bags. Luxuriously smooth, unique,
kosher-certified, 100% all-natural truffles are tasteful treats you can feel good about
giving and enjoying every day.