National Retail Federation sweet on local chocolate maker

SWAMPSCOTT – Erin Calvo-Bacci, owner of the chocolate manufacturer Bacci Chocolate Design of Swampscott, and its retail division The Chocolate Truffle of Reading, has been nominated by the National Retail Federation as a National Retail Champion. An awards ceremony will be held during the organization’s Retail Advocate’s Summit, July 29-30 in Washington, D.C.Calvo-Bacci, a member of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts board of directors, has owned The Chocolate Truffle since 2003. In 2006 she and her husband Carlo Bacci launched Bacci Chocolate Design, located in Swampscott, makers of the CB Stuffer line of Peanut Butter Cups, Gourmet Bars and Chocolate Pizzas sold to a growing list of specialty retail stores nationally, including Whole Foods, The Paper Store, TJX Corporation, Henri Bendel and Stonewall Kitchen. The CB Stuffer line was recently exhibited at the National Confectioners Association Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago, Ill., and at the Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show in New York City.Calvo-Bacci has lobbied at the federal level for sugar subsidy reform, against the Affordable Care Act.