OAKBROOK TERRACE, IL – October 28, 2025 – Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc. (“Prairie”), a leading middle-market investment bank, acted as financial advisor to World’s Finest® Chocolate (“World’s Finest®” or “Company”) in its transition into an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) company. Prairie acted as exclusive financial advisor in this transaction to World’s Finest® and its shareholders and was led by Richard Shuma of Prairie. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1939 by the Opler family, World’s Finest Chocolate is a chocolate manufacturing company based in Chicago, IL. Since pioneering product fundraising in 1949, World’s Finest Chocolate has helped fundraising partners raise over $4.7 billion dollars. In addition to fundraising products, World’s Finest is proud to make Queen Anne® cordial cherries and an extensive selection of chocolate gift items.
Prairie worked closely with the leadership team and sellers, providing ESOP advisory expertise, and managing the preparatory, due diligence and negotiation phases of the ESOP transaction, as well as structuring the financing for the transaction.
“I’ve wanted to share ownership with our employees for a long time,” said Eddie Opler, third-generation Owner and CEO. “For more than 85 years, the people who have worked with my family have become family themselves. This step ensures our legacy continues while giving everyone who contributes to our success an opportunity to benefit from it.”
“Finest applies to more than the name at World’s Finest Chocolate; they are a wonderful business that truly cares about its employees and its community,” added Richard Shuma, Managing Director at Prairie.
About Prairie Capital Advisors
Prairie is a leading financial advisory firm specializing in creating and executing ownership transition strategies for middle-market companies nationwide. In 2023, Prairie was named ESOP Investment Bank of the Year by M&A Atlas. For more information, visit www.prairiecap.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Wendy Gugora, Director of Marketing
Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.
630.413.5574
wgugora@prairiecap.com
