Ethel M Chocolates Shares Their Legacy | 334

Lisa Vannerson, Creative & PR Director at Ethel M Chocolates, and Mark Mackey, Chief Chocolatier, sit down with BigHead to talk through how a Mars family legacy helped shape some of the most recognizable chocolate brands in the world and how that history eventually led to Ethel M becoming a staple in Las Vegas. We also get into what it actually takes to create premium chocolate at scale, how the cactus garden experience became part of the brand identity, and how tradition and innovation continue to shape everything coming out of the Mars chocolate world. We get into: -The Mars family history and how M&M’s and Milky Way were created -How Ethel M Chocolates was founded -Why Ethel M is a unique chocolate experience in Vegas -The cactus garden and holiday lights -How new chocolate flavors are developed and tested -How Ethel M balances heritage with modern innovation -The role Las Vegas plays in the brand’s identity today -What goes into running a working chocolate factory open to the public -The evolution of one of the most recognizable candy empires in the world -Some upcoming Ethel M events and new chocolates --- Hey BigHead appreciates your support! Stay connected: Instagram:   / heybigheadshow   TikTok:   / heybighead   Ethel M Chocolates:   / ethelmchocolates   The Hey BigHead Show is proud to be a Vegas Local podcast. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:19 - Milky Ways, M&Ms, & Ethel M Origin 05:24 - Forrest's Imprint on Ethel M 07:30 - Why Henderson, NV? 08:14 - Company Pride 09:28 - Chief Chocolatier 10:11 - A Career in Chocolate 13:14 - Creating New Confections 17:14 - International Influence 18:53 - Flavor Failures 23:22 - Importance of Passion 25:08 - A Family Business 26:14 - Cactus Garden & Holiday Lights 28:06 - BigHead + Ethel M Chocolate Tasting 31:31 - Liqueur Chocolates 32:49 - Hand Painted Artistry 33:48 - AI & Technology in Chocolate 35:21 - New Holiday Bakery Collection 39:35 - Upcoming Ethel M Projects 42:50 - America's 250th Sweet Celebration Event 44:38 - Ethel M Offerings 45:29 - Outro