A sweet deal: Daffin's Candies acquires Girard chocolate maker

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
SHARON, Pa. -- Daffin's Candies has acquired Costello's Candies, whose owners, Joseph and Dorothy Costello, have decided to retire.
Costello's, which has stores in Girard, Ohio, and Grove City, has been in business for almost 30 years. Costello, who has agreed to remain as a consultant, is a brother of Jean Daffin, president and owner of the Sharon-based Daffin's Candies. The acquisition became effective Monday.
The current Costello staff will remain, Daffin said. The Costello's name will remain on store signs for about a year, then change to Costello's -- a division of Daffin's, Daffin said.
The Girard store will continue to make specialty chocolate items, she said. Founded in 1946, Daffin's has a chocolate factory in Farrell and stores in Sharon, Greenville, and Franklin, Pa., and Warren, Ohio. Daffin's also supplies chocolate to 40 Hallmark stores, mostly in Ohio and Pennsylvania.