Bochner chocolate bars support Hawks, ’Clones

A new candy bar marketed by Bochner Confections of Iowa City offers a sweet way for Hawkeye and Cyclone fans to support their school.

A bar of All Star Chocolates - milk chocolate with creamy caramel or peanut butter - has a suggested retail price of 99 cents. Each chocolate “bar” contains four individual pieces.

“Hawkeye Tasting Squares,” a University of Iowa-licensed product, are made with premium Belgian chocolate and decorated in Hawkeye black and gold. The tasting squares retail for $5.99 per package of 18 squares.

Hy-Vee Food Stores and Fareway are selling both All Star Chocolates products. They're also available at various convenience stores, drugstores, college-branded merchandise outlets and college concessions.

Eric Bochner, president and chief executive officer of Bochner Confections, said the licensing fee for each college-branded chocolate bar or package of tasting squares supports either the University of Iowa or Iowa State University.

“That's the great part about this. You can support your school and get a great product. Everybody wins,” Bochner said.

Jim Lingo, director of the Hy-Vee at 279 Collins Rd. NE in Cedar Rapids, said carrying the Iowa- and Iowa State-branded All Star Chocolates has helped differentiate his store.

“I'm always looking for something unique to offer our customers and these chocolates have gone over really well,” Lingo said.

He said customers bought them for tailgating and to use as holiday-stocking stuffers.

Bochner said the quality of the chocolate, combined with an attractive price, were the driving forces behind the development of All Star Chocolates.

“We've been making premium chocolate bars for several years and private-label bars for other companies,” he said. “We felt there was an opportunity to make something that was lower cost, but immediately recognizable for someone buying a chocolate bar. It also needed to be affordable and competitive on a mass market basis as well as something people could get behind.”

Bochner said All Star Chocolates also has official licenses with the University of Nebraska, University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin.

“We've been approved and plan to have a University of Missouri bar starting in the middle of February,” he said. “We're working with local supermarkets, convenience stores, college concessions and anyplace you can buy a candy bar.”

Bochner said All Star Chocolates likely will seek license agreements with the Ohio State University and Penn State University because they are part of the “triad” with the University of Michigan.

“Those schools have humongous alumni populations who want to support their schools,” he said. “We think All Star Chocolates products will really appeal to them.”