Hope Chocolates Launched in 2023 to Assist Ex-Offenders
The business operates in Camden, providing professional training and employment opportunities to men leaving prison.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Founded by Mark Walton, Bruce Smith, and Bill Borghard, Hope Chocolates began operations in 2023. The Camden-based company provides jobs and professional chocolatier training to men recently released from prison to support their reentry into society.
Why it matters
The business model seeks to lower barriers to employment for individuals reentering the workforce after incarceration. By providing vocational skills, the company aims to help former inmates establish stable work routines and successful paths forward in their personal lives.
The business is led by 3 founders who launched operations in 2023. The organization maintains a reach that extends from their Camden base across South Jersey and throughout the continental USA.
The players
Mark Walton
He is a co-founder of the Camden-based business Hope Chocolates.
Bruce Smith
He is a co-founder of the Camden-based business Hope Chocolates.
Bill Borghard
He is a co-founder of the Camden-based business Hope Chocolates.
Hope Chocolates
This is a social enterprise business that provides job training and employment to formerly incarcerated men.
The details
Employees at Hope Chocolates are trained in the craft of becoming chocolatiers while developing consistent professional habits. This vocational approach serves as a bridge for men seeking to reenter society and secure sustainable income after serving prison sentences.
Timeline
Hope Chocolates launched business operations in 2023.
Market Landscape
This business follows a pattern set by the recidivism reduction initiatives supported by the National Reentry Resource Center to lower re-offense rates through employment. It differentiates itself in the competitive artisanal goods market by emphasizing social impact over purely profit-driven growth.
Customers in South Jersey and across the continental USA can purchase products to support the business mission of providing employment to former inmates. Shoppers directly contribute to the training of new chocolatiers and the professional development of the local workforce.
The takeaway
Supporting social enterprises allows consumers to use their purchasing power to facilitate the successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. Investing in vocational training programs can provide long-term benefits for both the employees and the local community.
Further reading
For more on new local enterprises, explore Camden Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 6abc Action News.
Live Poll
Should local businesses prioritize hiring individuals transitioning out of the prison system?
