Gertrude Jones Hawk

Gertrude Jones Hawk (1903–1987) was an American candy maker and entrepreneur who created the Gertrude Hawk Chocolates company based upon her experience making chocolate from her home in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Gertrude Hawk was central to the company's financial success due to her development of fundraising networks in which local civic institutions could resell chocolates to support their own programs. It also supplies chocolate and confections to other food manufacturers such as Ben and Jerry’s, Turkey Hill Dairy, The Hershey Company, Nestle and Fanny May.

Early life

Gertrude Jones was born in 1903 in Dunmore, Pennsylvania, to Gomer and Ellen Jones. Her father died when Gertrude was 12 years old

Gertrude married Elmer Hawk in 1922, The restaurant was converted into a candy shop in 1973.

Gertrude officially retired from the company in 1962, but continued to visit the factory floor and help pack chocolates for a few years. Gertrude Hawk died in 1987.

Legacy Gertrude Hawk Chocolates has an extensive history of fundraising in the Scranton area supporting organizations such as the Make A Wish Foundation, Red Cross, local Boys and Girls Clubs and the Women's Resource Center, a shelter for women hurt by domestic violence.

In 2018, Gertrude Hawk was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame.