Rising Stars: Meet Courtney Lundin of North Hills, Raleigh

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Lundin.

Hi Courtney, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey began with 1492 Chocolates in Colorado, where we specialized in our award-winning gourmet truffles and bars. Inspired by my extensive travels and fascination with how communities express unity through food, the idea of crafting chocolates that represent each State’s unique flavors was born. After graduating with the highest honors from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College, and with the support of family and community, I founded 1492 Chocolates in 2013- bringing my vision to life with handcrafted confections that celebrated tradition and culture.

Today, The Sweetest State Confections brings together the best of our chocolate-making history with a new vision: introducing handcrafted mendiants, inspired by my classical French training and travels in France. A traditional French confection, our mendiants are a perfect blend of truffle and bar, and are now available online, at local markets, Raleigh boutiques, and select retail locations. We’re excited to continue delighting our customers with fresh, seasonal creations and offering Custom Collections for a truly personalized experience.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Launching a chocolate company in the summer, especially while participating in outdoor markets, brought its own set of challenges. Balancing our commitment to quality with the intense heat required creativity and care, from carefully timed transportation to maintaining ideal temperatures for our displays. Haley and I even built our chocolate cart from scratch to withstand the summer heat! Yet, these experiences allowed us to grow and build a meaningful connection with the community, reinforcing our dedication to delivering chocolates crafted with care, no matter the season.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At The Sweetest State Confections, we are dedicated to crafting chocolates that celebrate the essence of each state, with flavors as unique as the places they represent. Our specialty is creating mendiant confections that encourage you to “Explore America Through Chocolate”. We are proud of our ability to bring a sense of place and nostalgia to each piece. What sets us apart is our focus on storytelling through chocolate, connecting people to memories, places, and traditions in every bite. We are excited to be back in our hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, as a small-batch business crafted by just two women with a passion for chocolate!

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising about my journey is that it all began with a single seasonal treat: peppermint bark! That one item captured my love for chocolate-making and ultimately led me to build my business!

Pricing:

• State Box $10
• Regional Collection $25
• Custom Collection $27.50

Contact Info:

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