Inspiring Conversations with Jennifer Faketty of Confections With Convictions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Faketty.

Hi Jennifer, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our founder and chocolatier Dale Anderson worked as a counselor with young people in the Juvenile Court. He saw how many systemic barriers these young people faced as they sought employment and the opportunity to turn their lives around. He wanted to help them overcome these barriers. As a builder, Dale first thought of starting a construction business specializing in solar photovoltaics, to employ and train these youths on the job. This project turned out to be impossible, due to child labor laws.
While he pondered the next steps, he made a joke which was to become a reality. After buying a box of artisanal chocolates, he joked that maybe he should open a chocolate shop instead—and call it Confections with Convictions. Although it was just wordplay, the idea stuck with him, and a few months later he became convinced that it had potential.
Dale spent several years exploring the art of gourmet chocolate. He purchased and remodeled a building for the shop and opened the doors in December of 2010. For the next 13 years he hired young people with felony records, and provided opportunities for them to build new futures.
In January of 2023 Dale transferred ownership of the business to Jennifer Faketty. Jennifer is active in recovery and in the recovery community. She has experienced the continual growth and healing benefits of recovery and has a desire to share that with others. She is expanding the mission of the business to hire and serve those actively seeking a way out of drug and alcohol addiction.
Dale and Jennifer believe in the transformational power of good work and that every life transformed has a cascading positive impact on our community. Their goal with every one of their employees is to empower them to live their lives to the fullest so that they can in turn help others.
It’s a true labor of love.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any human enterprise, employing individuals with difficult pasts has had it’s ups and downs. But, all in all, it has by and large been a positive experience, with many great success stories. We made it through the mandatory COVID shut-down, and have weathered several floods in our neighborhood. More recently, the price of chocolate has almost quadrupled due to production issues in West Africa as a result of climate change. In addition to that, recent tariffs have added almost another dollar to the cost of our chocolate.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Confections With Convictions is Kalamazoo’s only shop making hand crafted truffles and other confections exclusively from Fair Trade, organic chocolate. Founder and Head Chocolatier Dale Anderson’s original recipes range from classic to unique flavors. We have around 105 different options of truffles and chocolate covered caramels to choose from. We source local ingredients such as fruits, honey, maple syrup, and herbs whenever possible. Our products are hand made in small batches. We are committed to using Fair Trade, organic chocolate and sustainable packaging.

People know us for our social mission, our extensive variety of innovative and traditional flavors, and our wide assortment of vegan options.

We don’t hire people to make chocolates. We make chocolates to hire people. Confections With Conviction’s mission has been to provide employment opportunities for people with barriers to employment, such as those with felony records and people in recovery from substance abuse.

Our Convictions
We believe in making wholesome, delicious, high quality confections
We believe in utilizing organically grown, fair trade & locally-sourced ingredients whenever possible
We believe in the transformative power of meaningful employment in the lives of people making new beginnings
We believe in treating our customers, employees, and suppliers in an honest, friendly and professional manner
We believe in environmental stewardship through our choices of ingredients, processes and packaging
We believe in providing fair compensation for our employees and for those who supply our ingredients and tools
We believe in hiring people who have barriers to employment
We believe in working to make our business, community, and world more peaceful, just, joyful and
environmentally sustainable

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was empathetic and compassionate. I was always trying to save animals. I wanted to become a Veterinarian.

Pricing:

• Truffles & Caramels from $2.95 – $70.00
• Chocolate Barks $6.50
• Chocolate Bars $ 5.50
• Chocolate Covered Nuts $6.50
• Chocolate Syrup $9.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://confectionswithconvictions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confectionswithconvictions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confectionswithconvictions