Meet Brandon Busch of Lift Chocolate in Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Busch.

Brandon, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was fascinated by cooking from a very young age. I loved watching the PBS shows with Justin Wilson and Jacques Pepin. After I graduating college (and with the wars in the Middle East intensifying,) I felt the need to serve. I was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and was winged a Naval Aviator in 2006. I reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, in Kaneohe, Hawaii, in 2007. Between 2007 and 2011, my squadron deployed to Al Asad, Iraq, and Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. During these deployments, I spent my downtime reading all of the textbooks used at the Culinary Institute of America – about five books and 2500 pages. I was fascinated by the pastry and baking book and decided that when my active duty time was over, I would go to pastry school.

In 2013, my family and I returned to Colorado, and I entered the pastry program at Johnson and Wales. I enjoyed all of the classes but was most challenged by chocolate. I developed a mild obsession and eventually decided that I wanted to specialize in chocolate and start my own business.

After graduating and beginning to develop my product line, I was lucky to come across a chocolate business for sale in Boulder. Concertos in Chocolate made beautiful, delicious products, and maintained the quality level that I was looking for. I purchased the business and re-branded under Lift (a nod to my helicopter days) and Boulder Chocolate. I have spent my first few years offering my own products and expanded in Whole Foods, Rocky Mountain Region, Pharmaca, Nordstrom, and several retailers in the Northwest United States. We also have a burgeoning online business. Lift is a specialty chocolatier, and we offer a luxury brand. We are dedicated to unique items, presented deliciously and beautifully. I am still a reservist in the Marine Corps, and my fellow Marines changed my call sign to “Candy Man.”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have faced many of the challenges young entrepreneurs have to deal with – Capital concerns, employee challenges, and inexperience in business. Luckily, I have several core team members who are dedicated to the success of Lift.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lift Chocolate – what should we know?
We offer premium quality and totally unique items. Our Splitz bars are one-of-a-kind, and our truffles and pralines are the best – as we prioritize flavor and freshness above shelf life. We create solid molded pieces, such as Santa and the Easter Bunny, and large display items like an 18 inch, hand painted Frosty the Snowman and a 3 lb Chocolate Turkey. Elegance is a must.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6395 Gunpark Dr Ste R
  Boulder, CO 80301
• Website: Lift Chocolate
• Phone: 3034471001
• Email: brandonbusch@liftchocolates.com
• Instagram: @liftchocolate
• Facebook: @liftchocolate

Image Credit:
Dustin Moon of Dustin Moon Visuals, and Laura Hobbs of Darling Creative

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