Chocolatier Amoré (est. 2007) is a long time vision of the owner, Tracy Goch. She started her lifelong dream when she was 14 years old in her grandmothers farmhouse kitchen in Big Rock, Illinois. She studied the art of chocolate and collected candy making supplies for several years. When she was 15 she started making homemade chocolates and selling them to her family’s attorney, banker, insurance agent, neighbors and friends. Her sister loved her peanut butter cups and her mother loved her chocolate covered cherries. When she was 16, she moved to Alabama where she got a job with Stam’s Chocolate Shop. Here she was able to gain experience working with large production candy equipment. She worked for Stam’s for about two years and decided to concentrate on her studies for college.

In 2001, Tracy started a gift basket business out of her house and was successful for a few years and did a great business by word of mouth. However, due to family obligations she was forced to put that business on hold, but she continued to fulfill special requests from family and friends.

Tracy is now 37, married with two children, ages 5 and 8. Now that both kids are in school and after working in IT/Insurance for 18 years, she felt it was time to finally fulfill her life long dream (with the help of her family and friends). Her son, who is very creative, has helped with the marketing aspect and her daughter has helped maintain the quality of the chocolate with her tasting pallet. She loves that part of the business. Together, they are making the dream come true by working with Tracy’s one true passion, CHOCOLATE.

Tracy’s mother, Pat Phillips, is the rock that has supported her through everything. Pat is not only Tracy’s mother and best friend, but she is also the bookkeeper and a buyer for Chocolatier Amoré. Pat has worked with Tracy in her gift basket business as both a buyer and a designer. Pat was the bookkeeper for Michael’s Arts and Crafts for 10 years and has dreamed of partnering with her daughter for many years. Now that Pat is semi-retired, she can too fulfill her dream of working with her daughter.