NORTH SALT LAKE—Since the 1971 classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, it has been the fervent dream of many, old and young, to visit an actual chocolate factory. While there may not be Oompa Loompas or a chocolate river, the Mrs. Cavanaugh’s production facility in North Salt Lake may be even better than that started by Mr. Wonka himself.

The chocolate factory, located in North Salt Lake, manages to capture the magic of the Wonka factory, without the danger to life and limb presented in the film. Instead of sailing down a chocolate river, guests on tours, offered to the public, are able to see how the chocolate goes from its most basic elements to the product that people see on the shelf, in the display cases of the lobby.

As the story goes, ​​George and Marie Cavanaugh got their start in confectionary in South Dakota, raising funds for their congregation in the 1960s. Marie had a killer pecan roll recipe, and it was immensely popular during the fundraiser. The only problem was, after the fundraiser was over, people still wanted to buy her sweets. The Cavanaughs knew they had something special, and decided it was time to go into business for themselves. 

Even though it was a bit uncommon, Marie went to the bank with a box of her homemade chocolates in hand and applied for a loan. So impressed was the loan officer that, not only was the box of chocolates empty by the end of their conversation, but he also placed an order for 200 pounds of chocolate, and extended the loan to her. Thus, was Mrs. Cavanaugh’s, as a business, born. 

George and Marie opened their first storefront in Utah right here in Davis County, in Bountiful, in 1972, but it wouldn’t be their last. Over the years, the business has grown to five storefronts, four around Utah, and one in Spokane, Washington, and has remained a family-owned business. That, explained Aimee Tracy, family friend, and employee, may well be the reason why the quality at Mrs. Cavanaugh’s has remained topnotch all these years.

While some production facilities maintain quality through strict standards and practices, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s maintains that quality because of just how invested each person working there is, “The cooks, it’s in their blood!” said Tracy, and she’s not kidding. Trevor Wall, the head cook at the North Salt Lake factory, is the grandson of Mrs. Cavanaugh herself, and their entire family has a vested interest in keeping things just how George and Marie would have done it themselves. 

This includes things like the fresh, real fruit juice that goes into their fruit creme-filled chocolates, the manual labor that goes into the preparation of things like their delicious peanut butter fudge, or the individual lettering that Tyson Wall, another grandson, does by hand for each and every lettered chocolate. While it’s hard work, it’s work worth doing and has paid off in droves.

In the lead up to Valentine’s Day earlier this week, the employees of the factory were busy filling around 500 orders a day, orders which would be shipped out, with a “no-melt guarantee” to every corner of the nation. Over the years, Mrs. Cavanaugh’s has shipped to places as far away as Florida, Hawaii, and even across the border into Canada. It proves what Colene Wall, daughter of the original Mrs. Cavanaugh, and current owner, along with her husband, said, “People are always happy when they come in here.”

With the care and attention that goes into each product, it’s easy to see why Mrs. Cavanaugh’s is a cherished Davis County institution, that sees hundreds of people passing through their doors regularly. Though there are many ways to satisfy a sweet tooth, Davis County residents know where to find the “cream of the crop.”