Ritter Sport U.S. CEO Ralf Hilpuesch Elevated to Also Lead Chocolove

CHICAGO – Ritter Sport, the family-owned maker of the iconic square German chocolate, today announced the promotion of Ralf Hilpuesch to CEO of Chocolove®, the premium brand it acquired in November 2025. With this appointment, Hilpuesch will now lead both company's U.S. businesses, consolidating operations under a single strategic vision to drive growth and build a stronger presence for both brands in the premium chocolate market.

Timothy Moley, Founder and CEO of Chocolove, owned by Creative Natural Products, Inc., will retire from the company effective March 31, concluding decades of visionary leadership that established the brand as a leader in premium chocolate.

"Chocolove was founded on a vision of making and selling a great tasting, fresh, European-style chocolate to North American customers. In the process, we created the niche of premium chocolate in the United States, which over the years grew into a category that was embraced by consumers. We measured our success by counting the Chocolove consumers we reached," said Moley. "At the 30-year mark, I am happy to find a good brand steward in Ritter Sport; a firm that shares in the same values and can further the mission of Chocolove."

Hilpuesch brings more than three decades of confectionery leadership and a proven record of building category-defining brands. He previously spent 13 years as President and CEO of Storck North America, where he transformed the business into one of the most successful and respected candy companies in the U.S. and Canada. Throughout his career, Hilpuesch has demonstrated deep market expertise, the ability to cultivate high-performing teams, and a consistent track record of accelerating brand growth and long-term value creation.

"Together, these two companies share similar values — both are family-driven, uncompromising in quality and passionate about crafting premium chocolate that brings people joy, while remaining deeply committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing," said Ralf Hilpuesch, CEO of Ritter Sport USA, Inc. "We have an extraordinary opportunity to build on each brand's legacy and unlock significant growth potential in the premium category, where both are already leaders."

Hilpuesch added, "I look forward to spending time in both Chicago and Boulder, working closely with our teams to shape the next chapter of growth together."

About Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG

Established in 1912, the family-owned company based in the German town of Waldenbuch, with a second production facility in Breitenbrunn in Austria and subsidiaries in other international markets, currently employs around 1,900 people and achieved sales of 605 million euros in 2024. Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG is the first major chocolate bar manufacturer to source only certified cocoa for its entire range, which includes the Ritter Sport and Amicelli brands. Ritter Sport consistently appears in the Chocolate Scorecard as a top company "Leading in policy and practice" globally for its sustainable cocoa sourcing. Ritter has been a balance sheet climate-neutral company since 2020 - another example of its own purpose to do the right thing to create really good chocolate. The colorful Ritter Sport squares are sold in more than 100 countries around the world.

About Creative Natural Products, Inc. (Chocolove®)

Creative Natural Products, Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, operates under the trade name Chocolove and is a leading manufacturer of premium, all-natural chocolate products. Founded in 1995, the company is dedicated to producing high-quality chocolate that is both luxurious and accessible.