On Tuesday, July 1st, thanks to the efforts of the Camden Verified Program, LAEDA successfully connected Hope Chocolates , a local small business, with Subaru of America. Mark Walton, Director of Strategy and Planning at Hope Chocolates, had the honor of participating as a vendor at a special event hosted by Subaru at their Camden headquarters.

Subaru has long demonstrated a strong commitment to the city of Camden by actively supporting local small businesses through community partnerships. At this event, Mr. Walton showcased Hope Chocolates’ premium confections, expertly crafted using imported Belgian chocolate. Their exquisite taste and eye-catching presentation led to the sale of nearly the entire inventory.

Hope Chocolates is a proud Camden Verified business—meaning it has successfully completed the program’s verification process and has demonstrated the professionalism, product quality, and capacity to serve large organizations.

“Everyone at Subaru is very welcoming, very nice, and so helpful!” said Walton. “I’m so glad I went through the Camden Verified process. Without it, I wouldn’t have had access to all these new opportunities.”

In addition to their recent success, Hope Chocolates will soon be settling into a new location—an exciting step forward for the growing business.

“This is a great example of how the Camden Verified Program works,” said Merfred Feliz, Special Programs Coordinator at LAEDA. “Our goal is to connect large organizations with Camden-based small businesses to create meaningful opportunities and support the local economy.”

This event highlights the potential for small businesses to expand their reach and serve organizations across Camden. To learn more about the Camden Verified Program or how to get involved, visit LAEDA.com.

If you are looking for handcrafted, delicious chocolates that are sure to impress, consider reaching out to Hope Chocolates “Where every piece is made to delight the senses.”