Talking 'bout My Resolutions: Dan Terry

Image by: Nik West

Dan Terry
Owner, Denman Island Chocolate Ltd.

Denman Island Chocolate, a seven-person business located on one of B.C.’s Gulf Islands, produces 3,000 organic chocolate bars a day.

What was 2008 “The Year Of”?
Transition, absolutely. We had a building built, moved into the new facility and bought a 40-year-old chocolate-bar wrapping machine made in Spain.

What keeps you up at night?
Staff issues. I only have women who work for me. They’re great workers but the relationships can be fraught. “You look great today. That’s a nice hairstyle.” These things go a long way.

If you could wave a magic wand, what would appear – or disappear – on Jan. 1?
A primary chocolate manufacturer would appear on Denman Island. As a small producer, I’m reliant on large producers to make my base chocolate.

What’s your top goal for 2009?
Getting away from it more. I want the business to be able to walk on its own. Denman Island is an intense place to run a business. It’s a small island, and that makes everything complicated.

In your world, what needs to happen to make 2009 a success?
Nothing new. Chocolate is recession-proof. If we were making $500 shoes, I’d be concerned. But I’m making $3 chocolate bars, so I’m confident.

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