About Us

Motto : "Back to the basics. Simple with great taste"

Shelley's Chocolates is a chocolates company that gets its roots from many old family recipes. Its origin began well before the company was ever developed. Shelley (McMurray) Hyldahl, who the chocolate company is named after, grew up watching her mother make chocolates every year during the Christmas holiday season. At that time it was just an enjoyable experience for her eating them. Even as she went through her teenage years her only involvement was eating her mother's delicious candies.

In 1972 she married Brent Hyldahl who for the first few years of their married life only participated in the eating of his mother-in-laws wonderful creations. As time passed an interest grew with the couple in how Shelley's mother made her chocolates and candies. They began paying attention to the actual process of candy making. As they watched Shelley's mother making candy, they became aware of how detailed and specific many of the processes were. In the latter part of the 1970's, they began experimenting with making a few candies of their own. They began with the easier ones first, like peanut butter cups first and eventually began experimenting with making fondant. As they became proficient with making the center, tempering the chocolate and dipping the centers, they began trying their luck on candies such as English Toffee and Truffles.

In late 1980, the Hyldahls were presented the opportunity to produce chocolates and wholesale them to a small candy store in Boise, Idaho. They built a small ( 8" by 10") candy room in their basement and had it inspected by the Health Department. By early 1981 they were selling chocolates for the first time.

Late in 1981 Brent's parents told them about a turn key opportunity in a local mall. In the spring of 1982 the Hyldahls opened a candy and chocolates store in the Pine Ridge Mall in Pocatello, Idaho called "The International Sweet Shoppe". It was a partnership with Brent's parents. His parents knew about business operation, Brent and Shelley understood about candy making. The candy store was in operation for 6 years at that location. In 1988 the store was closed because of overhead costs not making candy sales profitable enough and candy making basically went back to candy making at Christmas time.

In the summer of 2002 a spark fired up the desire again for the experience of seeing peoples faces light up with enjoyment as they taste a good chocolate. Brent and Shelley again decided to get the old candy room in operation. After a few sessions with the Health Department and a few months of construction the candy shop was up and producing again as a part time income to Brent's 25 year career at J. R. Simplot, a local fertilizer production facility.

From 2002 until the holiday season of 2005 the business slowly grew at a pace which kept both Brent and Shelley hopping continually. The little 8' by 10' candy room was getting way too small to deal with the production taking place.

In January and February of 2006 candy production was set aside and a family room which was located next to the candy kitchen was remodeled into a 16' by 22' candy production kitchen. This has been a wonderful addition to the candy making, providing adequate space for not only production but packaging and storage of all facets of the business.

Shelley's Chocolates produces a full line of exquisite chocolates, candies and candy bars which are distributed mostly in the Pocatello, Idaho area but also throughout the South East Idaho area. As the business continues to grow Brent and Shelley hope to spread even further.