TALENT
— John Stocking, founder of Endangered Species
Chocolate Company of Talent, reached
a settlement with the new owners of the company, DZ
Enterprises, in December, a surprising end to what looked to
become an acrimonious courtroom battle. (See BITTER CHOCOLATE,
September 2005 issue.) Details of the settlement were not
disclosed but Indianapolis-based DZ, which became the majority
owner of the company last year, issued a statement expressing
regret about any negative impact on Stocking’s reputation
and integrity. “I feel very vindicated,” says
Stocking. The settlement also included an undisclosed financial
sum and a noncompete clause that doesn’t preclude him
from getting back into the chocolate business in the future.
Stocking has remodeled the Talent plant into a workout facility
for young women athletes, including his daughter, who plays
volleyball for Ashland High School.
