Today we’d like to introduce you to Frederic Loraschi.
Frederic, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Arrive in the USA in La Jolla California December 9, 1999, with literally couple hundreds of dollars in my pocket. I have learned my craft from some of the greatest chef in Europe (Lea Linster only female to have won the Bocuse d’or in 1989, Bernard Loiseau three stars Michelin, Philippe Urraca MOF Best craftman of pastry from France 1993) with such resume I integrate very quickly the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as assistant pastry chef (opportunity for me to learn and improve my English speaking skills as well as learning the management of a large scale pastry operation)
After working as executive pastry chef at the hotel Hershey, it is in 2005, that I decided to start my chocolate company in Hershey Pennsylvania. We now own a 5000 square feet facility in Harrisburg, five employees and produce approximately seven tons of chocolates a year. I was elected best Chocolatier in North America in 2011 and finish second place at the US Selection for the World Chocolate Masters in 2010 I had the chance to meet my “Best half” my Wife Diana in San Diego and I am today the proud parents of two amazing boys Luca nine years old and Julian 15 Years old. A great achievement for me was to become a US Citizen September 15, 2015, and to have build starting from nothing, making my own American Dream.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s not been a smooth road, it’s been challenging, but I would not like it any other way. It is a challenge that makes you appreciate the good things when they come along. First, the barrier of the language, because as I first arrived in the country, I could barely line up a few words. The thing that helped me a lot was watching movies on Dvd (English, subtitled in French, then in French subtitled in English so I could enrich my vocabulary). The difficulty of establishing yourself, build your credit, being able to lease your own place (thank you for the support of my employers to assist me). Creating a legit business was a real challenge, financing the project, understanding of the behind the scene, thank you a to a lot of people along the way, (Alex Roca, Scott Sniegocki in particular for their advice and for guiding me in connecting the dots, making me an even greater entrepreneur.
Frederic Loraschi Chocolate – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Created in 2005, Frederic Loraschi Chocolate start from the idea to supply European style chocolate bonbons to luxury venues (hotels, country clubs, high-end catering companies) nationwide. In 2005 Frederic Loraschi was one of the first chocolatier to have pioneered and created the trend of hand-painted chocolate bonbons. Today FLC produce approx. Seven tons of chocolates and one ton of Macarons/year. I have built this business from the ground up with a very little resources and was able to turn it into a very healthy business.
What sets me apart from others?
Well that is a good question, I strongly believe in a good product at a fair price, but mostly a great customer service, I am all the time in the lab, making sure every recipe is being prepared correctly to provide the best product possible to my customers, without my employees and my customers I am NOTHING!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success, for me, is simple, Success is to be happy, being able to have a balanced lifestyle (between work, Friends and Family) Not to be financially in need and generate enough money to pay your employees and suppliers and save money for retirement.
Contact Info:
- Address: Frederic Loraschi Chocolate
4615 Hillcrest Street
Harrisburg PA 17109 - Website: www.fredericloraschichocolate.com
- Phone: 717 540 0000
- Instagram: floraschichocolate
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fredericloraschichocolate/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/frederic-loraschi-chocolate-harrisburg
Image Credit:
Mike Mihalo Photography, Ashley Kemmer Photography
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