Solana Beach, Calif. – August 28, 2008 – Jer’s Handmade Chocolates wins their 5th and 6th International Taste Awards for their gourmet peanut butter and toffee piece, “Toffee Break.” This award, along with two other “Best of Show” awards, one “Best First Time Piece” and two “Best New Piece” awards brings a great deal of pride to the Jer’s team.

Since inception Jer’s Handmade Chocolates has now won 6 International Taste Awards. Award recipients are selected by over 700 confection industry peers and members of the Retail Confectioners International (RCI), which has participating members from all over the world including Latin America, Australia, Europe and North America.

Jerry Swain, founder of Jer’s Handmade Chocolates, “It is a true honor to be recognized by your peers in the industry and we are very humbled by the recognition we received on our newest Toffee Break piece. We will continue to strive to make the most delicious peanut butter chocolates using the finest ingredients and good processes.

Swain also won bragging rights for “best presentation” at the show as he sang and played harmonica re-writing the song of Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” to “Chocolate Man” emphasizing the Toffee Break piece. Swain admits he gets a “10” for guts and about a “2 out of 10” for singing ability. The presentation was so popular, the organization asked him for an encore at the awards presentation and taped it……which remains under lock and key!

About Jer’s Handmade Chocolates
Jer’s Handmade Chocolates is based in San Diego County and has pioneered their decadent gourmet peanut butter confections. It is a privately held company, and for five years has been successfully supplying both large and small retail and distribution channels with a gourmet product that has great appeal to the significantly growing gourmet chocolate appetite. Their current (and growing) mix includes 11 gourmet peanut butter varieties including: Original IncrediBall™, Pretzo Change-O™, Cara Mella™ and Toffee Break™. Jer’s Peanut Butter Confections in the Gourmet Collection to date have earned six International Awards.

About Jerry Swain
In 2001, Jerry Swain left his comfortable and successful career path at a major corporation to turn his special recipe for peanut butter and chocolate confections into a business venture. He took a risk, and his dream of sharing his recipe with others is definitely being fulfilled. His gourmet confections have been voted “Best of Show” by his peers from more than 700 confectionary companies throughout the world. His products, story and charitable giving have also been featured on the Food Network and most recently chosen by Rachael Ray as "Snack of the Day."

For more information on Jer’s Handmade Chocolates, please call (800) 540-7265 or visit Jer’s website at www.jers.com.