We were thrilled to stop by the WGN AM studio on October 19 for the Noon Business Lunch! Co-owner John Manchester sat down to chat about all things chocolate, seasonal treats, and how Windy City Sweets is getting ready for a busy fall and holiday season.

Here are a few highlights from the segment:

• Spooky & Beautiful Halloween Treats: With Halloween candy sales projected to reach $4.1 billion this year, we brought along some of our hand-crafted favorites. The studio loved our detailed solid chocolate jack-o'-lanterns, hollow grapefruit-sized pumpkins, chocolate ghosts, and Day of the Dead items.

• Sweet & Salty Custom Creations: John surprised the host with a personalized "Happy Birthday" milk chocolate bar loaded with crunchy potato chips, as well as a custom cookie featuring a photo printed directly onto the treat using our specialized imaging process. Whether you need custom corporate logos or individual event favors, we can print almost any design on a treat!

• Fall Flavors in Stock: We brought along our seasonal pumpkin fudge and sour green apple caramel treats layered in chocolate.

• Navigating Market Trends: John discussed how we are managing recent increases in cocoa and sugar costs alongside our suppliers and customers, as well as the outlook for more sustainable chocolate sourcing in the industry.

• Gearing Up for the Holidays: While Mother’s Day and Easter bring huge short-term rushes, our busiest 30-day stretch of the year runs from Thanksgiving through Christmas. We are fully stocked and ready to build custom chocolate boxes, gift baskets, and personalized treats for all your holiday gifting needs.

Missed the broadcast or looking to order your own spooky sweets and custom gifts?

Visit us in person at 3308 N. Broadway in Chicago or browse our collection online anytime at windycitysweets.com.