The Sweet Story of smartBARK! Organic

The following article was provided by smartBARK Organic!

Chocolate has been Ines Rehner’s (founder of smartBARK! Organic) favorite food for as long as she can remember. To this day, she would rather have one good piece of chocolate than anything else. That is why she started making her own chocolate in hopes that others would share her passion.

The History of smartBARK! Organic

Growing up in what was previously Yugoslavia, (now Croatia), chocolate was a luxury. Her earliest memory of chocolate was when she went to Sunday school and the priest had a small, wafer-thin chocolate bar to share with the youngest children. Her sweet tooth came from her father, who always had candy hidden in his car.

This love affair with chocolate and the fact that Ines grew up on an organic farm made it a natural progression for her to create smartBARK! Organic.

In 1987, Ines visited family in New York City and immediately knew she wanted to live in the United States. The opportunities seemed endless. She returned home to finish college and by age 24, she had earned enough money to buy a ticket to America. She started working at a candy store in New York that resold chocolates and candies, but Ines knew that the chocolates could taste better. She began experimenting at home and kept working until she developed her unique blend.

One summer, when visiting relatives in Cleveland, she unexpectedly fell in love and decided to stay. Her future husband, John, understood her passion. She wanted to make great chocolate and she already had a name for her store: Sweet Designs Chocolatier.

In December 1995, Sweet Designs Chocolatier opened a small corner store on Madison Avenue in Cleveland. Her customers loved it, and she loved making them happy.

After 10 years making chocolate, Ines designed her own European Chocolaterie on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio and in 2015, she added smartBARK! Organic as one of her products.

Why You’ll Love smartBARK! Organic

smartBARK! Organic comes in three delicious Fx™-approved flavors at Heinen’s: Salted Almond, Crispy Quinoa and Trail Mix. Its 70% dark chocolate has less sugar and is USDA Certified Organic.

It also has Fair Trade USA certified ingredients, and is vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free and soy-free. Its great taste, and the fact that it’s made in Ohio, are two other reasons to give it a try. You can find it in the candy aisle at Heinen’s in Ohio and Illinois.

Ines believes few things give you the pure enjoyment of great chocolate. The wonderful aroma, the smooth rich texture, and the incomparable taste all combine to make great chocolate one of life’s truly satisfying experiences. Ines hopes that you enjoy eating smartBARK! as much as she enjoys making it!