News June 24, 2025
Chocolate Chocolate Names Justin Walford President & CEO
The Blaine, WA-based supplier provides custom, personalized edible gifts and confections, including specialty engraved chocolate.
Key Takeaways
• Leadership Transition: Justin Walford has become president and CEO of Chocolate Chocolate (asi/44897), succeeding Ken Strong, who retired after 18 years but remains as adviser and board member.
• Strategic Focus: The company said Walford’s appointment marks a renewed commitment to the promotional products industry.
• Experienced Leadership: Walford brings over 20 years of executive experience and an Oxford EMBA to help drive growth and innovation.
Justin Walford is the new president and CEO of Chocolate Chocolate (asi/44897), a Blaine, WA-based supplier that’s a division of Totally Chocolate, which provides custom, personalized edible gifts and confections, including specialty engraved chocolate.
Taking over for Ken Strong, who retired in April after 18 years, Walford’s hiring marks the start of what Chocolate Chocolate described as renewed commitment and investment in the promo products channel.
Justin Walford, Chocolate Chocolate (asi/44897)
“We’re committed to growing as a supplier to the promotional products industry,” said Walford. “We look forward to working with our multi-line sales reps, our distributor partners and the industry at large to bring our premium decorated chocolate to more projects and more end-users in the years ahead.”
Holding an Executive Master of Business Administration from Oxford University, Walford has more than 20 years of business-to-business and consumer leadership experience, according to Chocolate Chocolate. He’s been a portfolio manager at Everbranch Capital Group, executive vice president of marketing and e-commerce at Pelican International and president and chief operating officer at Hillberg & Berk, among other key roles at Icebreaker Merino Clothing and G3 Genuine Guide Gear.
“I’m honored to join Chocolate Chocolate as president,” said Walford. “With such a talented and responsive team in Blaine, WA, and the full support of our ownership group, I look forward to building our promotional product industry business.”
While retiring, Strong isn’t leaving Chocolate Chocolate entirely. He’ll serve as a board member and adviser going forward.
“Ken oversaw groundbreaking advancements in our past, such as the introduction of fully custom packaging and our roboticized production lines,” Walford said. “We’re thrilled that he will remain on our board, and as an adviser, as we turn to the second half of 2025.”
Founded in 1988, Totally Chocolate is part of Ganache Brands, which is part of Founders Group of Food Companies. Founders is a partnership backed by Vancouver, BC-based private equity firm Tricor Pacific Capital.