Four Generations of Chocolatiers

chocolate covered pretzels

Family Traditions to Make Your Life Sweeter

Every generation of our family feels most at home in the kitchen, and more specifically the chocolate kitchen. Our family has been making premium European chocolate recipes in the United States since 1914. It all started when our great-grandparents came to the United States through Ellis Island looking for the American Dream. They brought what they could carry in their suit case, the clothes on their back, and of course their chocolate recipes. They saved enough money to open a small chocolate shop and ice cream soda fountain in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Since then, our family has been dedicated to serving our communities with the pride that has been instilled in us by each generation that came before us. We look forward to continuing our traditions in communities from coast to coast.

  • group of people in chocolate factory
  • dona cutting chocolate
  • boy in chocolate factory
  • Charlie Papou
  • milkshake factory founder on mr rogers tv show
  • woman and boy cutting cookie

Story of Dona

Dona, our cherished Mom and Yiayia, was the heart of our family and the inspiration behind MilkShake Factory®. Her passion for chocolate making defined our premium chocolates. The chocolate kitchen was her happy place, where creativity flowed effortlessly.

Today, as we continue Dona’s legacy, our mission is to infuse her love into every batch. We strive daily to make Mom proud by upholding the traditions she crafted. The MilkShake Factory® isn’t just a business; it’s a celebration of Dona’s spirit and a tribute to the legacy she left behind, ensuring every chocolate carries the essence of her love and dedication.

Donas chocolate kitchen logo
Section Background Image
A Taste of the Chocolate Bar
  • Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
    Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
  • S'mores Bark
    S’mores Bark
  • Cookie Bark
    Cookie Bark
  • Chocolate Dipped Stroopwafel
    Chocolate Dipped Stroopwafel
  • Peanut Butter Pretzel
    Peanut Butter Pretzel
  • Pecan Caramel Terrapins
    Pecan Caramel Terrapins
  • Roasted Almond Bark
    Roasted Almond Bark
Section Background Image

Sustainably Sourced Cocoa

Our cocoa is sustainably sourced through programs that support farmers and their communities. We’ve traveled to cocoa farms in the Dominican Republic and the Ivory Coast to meet the people who start it all. We only use certified sustainable cocoa through Cocoa Horizons and supports Women’s Agro Forestry. Read more about our ongoing commitment to sustainable cocoa.

hands holding cocoa beans
  • people holding cocoa pod
  • cocoa pod on tree
  • people learning about cocoa
  • man talking to female cocoa farmer
  • cocoa beans on ground
  • cocoa horizons foundation members
  • hands holding cocoa beans
  • man cutting cocoa pod
Section Background Image