 |
|
(Update: April 2008; Hershey Canada will cease to exist at the end of 2008. At present, there are still three production lines running, making Oh Henry, Eatmore and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups products. The chocolate shop is open during business hours...and the chocolate is still wonderful.)
Mounds of chocolate. White chocolate, rich and deep dark chocolate, chocolate blends, swirls, multi-kilogram sized bars….chocolate!
“There is a new reason to enjoy hot cocoa on a cold winter's night in front of a cozy fire. Consider it a health drink. Beyond the froth, cocoa teems with antioxidants that prevent cancer, Cornell University food scientists say. Comparing the chemical anti-cancer activity in beverages known to contain antioxidants, they have found that cocoa has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times those found in green tea.” Source, Cornell University
 |
It is only about 80 km (50 miles) distance to Ottawa’s key chocolate source, the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Smiths Falls, Ontario, from the Parliament Buildings in downtown Ottawa.
Even if you are renting a car and don’t know your way around, getting to the Hershey Chocolate Factory is not too complex.
 |
From the Parliament Buildings, you will need to drive south on one of the main roads (Bank St., Metcalfe St., Elgin St.?) until you reach the 417 highway a couple of kilometers away. Enter the westbound lanes of the 417.
As you drive west on the 417 you will then have two options for reaching the factory.
One option is to stay on the 417 highway until you reach the highway 7 exit. That’s about 20 kilometers (approx. 12 miles) or so from downtown Ottawa.
 |
Take highway 7 westbound until you reach Carleton Place, another 25-30 kilometers (15 – 18 miles). Highway 7 is undergoing conversion into a four lane split highway here, though there shouldn’t be any real slow-downs.
At Carleton Place you will turn left, south, onto highway 15 and follow that about 30 kilometers (18 miles) until you reach Smiths Falls. In Smiths Falls, watch for the signs or ask anyone, and they’ll provide directions to the factory.
Smiths Falls isn’t a big town, and even if you get lost, you can’t go far wrong before you are heading back out of town again. It’s also quite a picturesque location to visit in it’s own right, with the Rideau Canal meandering through the center of the village on it’s way to Lake Ontario.
Your second option to drive to Smiths Falls is to, once again, take 417 highway westbound, but this time, before you leave the city, you will merge to the left onto 416 highway south. This is a major divided highway allowing you to make good speed on your journey. You will travel south on 416 about 40 kilometers (25 miles) until you reach Country Rd. 6 (also shown as Roger Stevens Drive). Exit to the west bound direction (right) and follow Roger Stevens Drive to Smiths Falls, under 40 kilometers (25 miles).
Sometimes we’ll take one route on the way to Smiths Falls, and the other route on the return to Ottawa.
At the chocolate factory, you can take the self-guided tour of the plant.
These clever Hershey folks have suspended a glassed-in walkway around the plant at ceiling level, through which visitors can see much of what is happening on the plant floor, and do so without fear of contaminating the food products which are being processed in a very clean environment.
 |
Unfortunately, they also request that no photos be taken on the tour. One would suspect that some of the chocolate processing equipment seen is proprietary.
Displays and video presentations abound during the tour, and you will learn much about the processing of chocolate as you wander along.
The bouquet of warm chocolate wafts gently along with you, and if you are hungry during your visit, the delicious aroma of warm chocolate makes your mouth water. Not to mention, looking down and seeing the huge vats of liquid chocolate, each containing enough to make over 175,000 chocolate bars!
The tour begins and ends in the Hershey well stocked Chocolate Shoppe.
Visitors can stock up on chocolate products of all kinds, at very reasonable (some say wholesale) prices.
As you check out, the well organized staff will provide each person in the party with a sample chocolate bar. A gift to you for making the trip, and a very clever way for Hershey to introduce some new flavoured chocolate bars to the public.
 |
So visit, stock up, and on the way out, kiddies might enjoy taking along with them one of the famous Hershey Kisses, whether in chocolate form, or as a “cuddly” toy.
If you have the time, and the children aren’t too restless, consider taking highway #43 east out of Smiths Falls, and drive the 18 kilometers (11 miles) to beautiful Merrickville, which is also located on the Rideau Canal system. There are lots of shops, some quaint restaurants (though who will be hungry after leaving Hershey’s, hmmmm?), and you get to drive a ways along the Rideau Canal on your way.
After a stop in Merrickville, continue on highway #43 east until you reach highway #416 which you can take north and back to Ottawa.
Chocolate Factory Information:
Hershey Canada Inc.
1 Hershey Dr
Smiths Falls ON, K7A 4T8
Phone: 613-283-3300
Fax: 613-283-9043
Toll Free: 800-468-1714
email: chocolateshoppe@hersheys.com
Please click here for the Hershey Web Site
To top
