Love chocolate? Kansas City-based Russell Stover Chocolates has the perfect box for you
By Emily Curiel and
Chris Ochsner
Russell Stover chocolatiers assort giant chocolate slabs into a huge box during Russell Stover Chocolates’ attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate.
Emily Curiel
ecuriel@kcstar.com
Is there really such a thing as too much chocolate?
The company’s latest box of chocolates would crush Forrest Gump. It weighs in at 5,616 pounds.
The giant box of chocolates that measures more than 30 feet long and more than 15 feet wide and filled with enormous chocolate candies weighing in at 11 to 38 pounds each was created during an event Monday as Russell Stover employees worked to break the record for the world’s largest box of chocolate. The previous record held by U.K. chocolatier Thorntons was a mere 3,725 pounds.
A Guinness World Records representative was on hand to confirm the record while humongous chocolate candy treats were individually weighed as they were added to the giant gift box inside the Kauffman Center for the Peforming Arts. Chocolate coated almonds were added for good measure.
Russ Bishop, center, member of Russell Stover’s world record chocolate team, weighs in giant slabs of chocolate during Monday’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
The record setting event was part of the company’s celebration of its 100th year in business. A silent auction was held during the event with proceeds going to Feed the Children, a nonprofit that provides food and essentials to families in need.
Who gets to eat the massive candies? They will be distributed in ways to benefit Feed the Children later this year according to Russell Stover Chocolates.
See the giant box of candy being assembled in these photos.
The giant chocolate candies placed in the Russell Stover gift box weighed from 11 to 38 pounds each. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Giant specialty chocolates weighing from 11 to 38 pounds each are placed in the enormous gift box that measured 30 feet, 4.5 inches by 15 feet, five inches. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Mike Finn prepares to put a giant chocolate slab into a chocolate box during Russell Stover Chocolates attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
The giant novelty chocolates that filled the Russell Stover Chocolates gift box weight from 11 to 38 pounds each and combined to make more than 5,000 pounds of candy in the Guiness World Records largest box of chocolates. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A Russell Stover chocolatier places giant chocolate specialty candies into a chocolate box during Russell Stover Chocolates attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Brian Walsh dumps chocolate covered almonds into the chocolate gift box during Russell Stover Chocolates’ attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
The last two giant slabs of chocolate are wheeled in on a cart to put inside a Russell Stover Chocolates box during the Kansas City-based chocolate company’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest box of chocolate Monday, April 17, 2023, at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. More than 5,000 pounds of giant chocolate candies were loaded into the oversized gift box to set a new Guiness World Record of 5,616 pounds. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Niccolo Starace, CEO of Russell Stover Chocolates, left, accepts the Guinness World Record award for the largest box of chocolate at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, April 17, 2023, in Kansas City. The oversized 5,616 pound replica of the brand’s chocolate box was filled with specialty chocolates weighing from 11 to 38 pounds each. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Russell Stover Chocolates received a certificate from the Guinness World Records recognizing the Kansas City-based company as having the world’s largest box of chocolates. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 1:23 PM.
Visuals Editor Chris Ochsner leads The Star’s talented staff of photojournalists and video producers. He’s had his hand in directing visuals coverage since 2002. Ochsner led the visuals team in its coverage of four Super Bowls and two World Series.
