Drift Chocolates: DIY Festival Craft Food

It’s that time of the year again! The Utah State Fairpark opens its gates to the 18th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival Presented By Harmons. Being Utah’s largest local-centric arts, music, science and technology festival, DIY Fest is a three-day event. Experience the best of our state’s creative culture with over 500 local artists and makers, three stages for music and dance performances, a youth entrepreneur area, a STEM building with hands-on exhibitions, dozens of food vendors and more. Kids of all ages and dogs are welcome — find more info and get tickets at craftlakecity.com!

After burning out his career in marketing, Brett Smith felt it was time to leave corporate America to pursue a new craft — one that was authentic, community-driven and reflected his own values. After 15 years of learning chocolate-making from his mother-in-law, carrying on the family legacy felt like the natural next step. Thus, Drift Chocolates was born.

Staying authentic to the craft is central to Smith’s mission. He refuses to pay influencers for endorsements, instead letting the quality of the product speak for itself. “It can be hard to find real passion in corporate America,” Smith says. “When you go public, you stop making chocolate, and you start making money. That’s not how I operate.”

Because the majority of purchases are made as gifts, every box represents an opportunity for connection. Smith hopes his chocolates create joy for people, whether they’re celebrating an anniversary, sharing a moment of gratitude or simply enjoying a sweet treat together.

Community is the heart of Drift Chocolates. Smith credits the people around him for helping the company succeed and strives to support others. He partners with local ingredient suppliers, sells at community markets and even names chocolates after featured brands. For Smith, every relationship he cultivates is just as important as the chocolate itself. —Grace Simpson

Read more about local eats:
Serving up slices of life at Este Pizzeria
A Sip of the Sea in the Salt Lake Valley: How The Oyster Guy is Redefining Inland Seafood

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