A bean-to-bar company produces chocolate by processing cocoa beans into a product in-house, rather than merely melting chocolate from another manufacturer. Some are large companies that own the entire process for economic reasons; others are small- or micro-batch producers and aim to control the whole process to improve quality, working conditions, or environmental impact. [1]
| Company | Location | Year founded | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ah Cacao Real Chocolate | Mexico | 2003 | Single origin chocolate bars | Artisan producer of dark chocolate and related products made of Mexican cacao. Supports wildlife conservation. |
| Alprose | Switzerland | 1957 | Chocolate bars, napolitains and dragées | Includes a visitor center. |
| Amano Artisan Chocolate | United States | 2006 | Single origin chocolate (bars, couverture), cocoa nibs | Founding member of the Craft Chocolate Makers of America. The Madagascar bar and the Dos Rios Palet d'or have received gold medals from the London Academy of Chocolate. [2] |
| Amedei | Italy | 1990 | Amedei is a luxury chocolate manufacturing company located in Pontedera in the Tuscany region of Italy. | |
| Amul | India | 1946 | ||
| Antica Dolceria Bonajuto | Italy | 1880 | Chocolate bars, pastry, chocolate liquor, cocoa beer | Bonajuto is a chocolate manufacturing company located in Modica in the Sicily region of Italy. |
| Askinosie Chocolate | United States | 2007 | Single origin chocolate bars (dark, dark milk, white), single origin natural cocoa powder, roasted cocoa nibs | Utilizes direct trade, paying farmers above fair trade prices for cocoa beans and sharing profit with them. One of the only small-batch chocolate makers in the US to press their own cocoa butter. |
| Barry Callebaut | Switzerland | 1996 (1842 & 1911) | Acticoa, Alprose, Sarotti, Jacques | Large producer of couverture, used in many chocolate products. Introduced ruby chocolate in 2017. |
| Blommer Chocolate Company | United States | 1939 | Chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, panned products, chocolate coatings, chocolate ingredients for the confectionery, pastry, and dairy industries | Blommer is the largest cocoa processor and ingredient supplier in North America, processing over 45% of US cocoa imports. It is a founding member of the World Cocoa Foundation, which works to support sustainable cocoa production. The product line includes organic and fair-trade products. In addition to the Chicago factory, Blommer operates factories in East Greenville, Pennsylvania; Union City, California; Campbellford, Ontario; and Shanghai, China. They also own World's Finest Chocolate in Chicago. |
| Bonnat Chocolates | France | 1884 | More than 40 single origin bars | Bonnat Chocolatier. |
| Caffarel | Italy | 1826 | Chocolate bars, Gianduiotti | Introduced Gianduja |
| Cailler | Switzerland | 1819 | Large variety of chocolate bars, including Branche since 1904, and praline boxes | Founded in Vevey in 1819 by François-Louis Cailler, oldest factory in Switzerland. Owned by Nestlé since 1929 |
| Camille Bloch | Switzerland | 1929 | Ragusa and Torino brands and liquor-filled chocolates | |
| Castronovo Chocolate | United States | 2012 | Chocolate bars using single-origin cacao from Latin America, roasted cocoa nibs and truffles | Multiple awards from the International Chocolate Awards and the Academy of Chocolate. [3] Castronovo uses heirloom beans from Latin America. [4] |
| Cima-Norma | Switzerland | 1903 | Chocolate bars | Closed in 1968 |
| Chocolaterie Robert | Madagascar | 1940 | Fine and organic cacao grown and made into chocolate in Madagascar, couverture, baking chocolate, chocolate bars, cacao butter, cacao nibs | Won gold at the world finals of the International Chocolate Awards for its Chocolate Madagascar Fine Milk Chocolate 50% Cocoa Bar. [5] Also, Academy of Chocolate global winner. |
| Chocolala | Estonia (Tallinn) | 2013 | Single origin chocolate bars (dark, dark milk, coconut milk, sugar-free), roasted cocoa nibs | A small-batch chocolate maker. |
| Cocoa Processing Company | Ghana | 1981 | Golden Tree chocolate bars, chocolate beverages | Semi-finished products are sold under the Portem brand name to foreign markets. The Confectionery Factory manufactures chocolate confectionery namely, chocolate bars, chocolate spread, drinking chocolate and chocolate dragees. The confectionery products are marketed under the brand name GoldenTree. |
| Domori | Italy | 1997 | Domori is a premium chocolate company headquartered near Turin. | |
| E. Wedel | Poland (Warsaw) | 1851 | Chocolates, cakes, and an assortment of chocolate snacks, candies and filled bars | E. Wedel is owned by Lotte Group. |
| Chocolates El Rey | Venezuela | 1929 | El Rey uses only Venezuelan cacao, fermented and sun dried, and processed locally. | |
| Ethel M Chocolates | United States | 1980 | Brittle chocolate-flavored candies, caramels, and fine liqueur-filled chocolates. | Ethel M. Chocolates is owned by Mars Inc. The company is named after the mother of Forrest Mars, Sr. |
| Favarger | Switzerland | 1826 | Chocolate bars, Avelines, Nougalines | Founded in Geneva in 1826, Switzerland's oldest independent chocolate maker. Favarger gets its cocoa beans from the tiny West African islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. [6] |
| Fazer | Finland (Helsinki) | 1891 | The Karl Fazer Nordic Gourmet chocolates that were launched in 2009 combine the unique Nordic berries — lingonberry, blueberry, raspberry and cloudberry — with cocoa grown at the Equator. | |
| Felchlin | Switzerland | 1908 | Primarily wholesale products | Founded in 1908 by Max Felchlin. |
| Freia | Norway | 1889 | Freia was made successful by Throne-Holst, who also founded Marabou. It was acquired in 1993 by Kraft Foods, which is now known as Mondelez. | |
| Frey | Switzerland | 1887 | Acquired in 1950 by Migros; #1 in popularity in Switzerland | |
| Friis-Holm | Denmark | 2007 | ||
| Galle & Jessen | Denmark | 1872 | Chocolates and liquorice. Known for their chocolate frogs, and Ga-Jol liquorice. | Oldest chocolate factory in Denmark. Acquired in 1972 by Toms International. |
| Garoto | Brazil | 1929 | Acquired in 2002 by Nestlé | |
| Ghirardelli | United States | 1852 | Since 1998, it has been owned by Lindt & Sprüngli. Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco is named after this chocolate-making family. | |
| Guittard | United States | 1850s | Couverture | Guittard makes couverture chocolate using original formulas and traditional French methods, and supplies chocolate to See's Candies. |
| Hachez | Germany | 1890 | Truffles, chocolate candies, chocolate bars, and chocolate coins | The Bremer HACHEZ Chocolade GmbH & Co. was established by Joseph Emile Hachez, a chocolatier of Belgian origin, on July 1, 1890. |
| Halba | Switzerland | 1933 | Chocolate bars and truffles | Owned by Coop since 1972 |
| Haigh's Chocolates | Australia (Adelaide) | 1915 | Haigh's is the oldest family-owned chocolate manufacturing retailer in Australia. | |
| Hershey's | United States | 1894 | Hershey's, Hershey's Kisses, KitKat, Bliss, Heath Bar, Reese's, Dagoba, Scharffen Berger and many others. | Hershey ceased bean-to-bar manufacturing around 2007 or 2008. They produce only the Scharffen Berger from bean to bar. [7] See also List of products manufactured by The Hershey Company. |
| Hotel Chocolat | United Kingdom | 2003 | A variety of chocolate bars and filled chocolates, collections of single origin and single plantation chocolate as well as a range of savoury cocoa products | Company began as an online only service, before moving into the retail market. Company also owns a cocoa plantation on St Lucian (The Rabot Estate). Hotel Chocolat has an "Engaged Ethics" program in St Lucia and Ghana, seeking to provide farmers with a fair price and necessary support. |
| Ion (chocolate) | Greece | 1930 | Ion, Ion Dark, Noisetta, Break, Chocofreta, Nucrema, Serano, 3011, Baloo, O-Mamy | The biggest chocolate products manufacturer in Greece exporting its products to 20 countries worldwide, including US, Japan and Australia |
| J. S. Fry & Sons | United Kingdom | 1761 | Merged with Cadbury in 1919 | |
| Kalev | Estonia | 1864 | Founded in 1806 as a confectionery. Chocolate production after 1864. Most or all products are under the Kalev name brand. | |
| Kägi Söhne | Switzerland | 1960 | Chocolate coated wafers | Founded in 1934 as a bakery. Chocolate production since 1960. |
| Kohler | Switzerland | 1830 | Chocolate bars | Founded in Lausanne in 1830. Introduced hazelnut chocolate. Owned by Nestlé since 1929 |
| Kraš | Croatia | 1911 | Milk chocolates (Dorina), chocolate bars, (Dorina, Životinjsko carstvo, Bajadera), nougat desserts | Kraš was founded in 1911 as Union, incorporated in 1950, and is located in Zagreb, Croatia. |
| Läderach | Switzerland | 1962 | Various chocolates | Founded in 1962 by Rudolf Läderach |
| Laima | Latvia (Riga) | 1870 | ||
| Lindt & Sprüngli | Switzerland | 1845 | Lindt, Lindor | Lindt developed the conching process. Lindt & Sprüngli bought Ghirardelli Chocolates in 1998. |
| Maestrani | Switzerland | 1852 | Chocolate bars | Founded in 1852 by Aquilino Maestrani. The company owns the Minor and Munz brands |
| Malagos Chocolate | Philippines (Davao City) | 2012 | Single origin chocolate bars, cocoa liquor | |
| Mars, Incorporated | United States | 1911 | M&Ms, Snickers, Dove Chocolate, and others. | Large chocolate manufacturer, with US$30 billion revenue in 2008. |
| Mast Brothers | United States | 2007 | Chocolate bars, chocolate beer, and chocolate confections | Mast Brothers is a small manufacturer with flagships in Brooklyn, London, and most recently Los Angeles. [8] |
| Mayordomo | Mexico (Oaxaca) | 1956 | Table chocolate, mole | Mayordomo is a producer of chocolate made from local cacao. Stores often will mix beans with other ingredients and grind it to customer specifications. |
| Menier | France | 1836 | Chocolate bars | Founded in 1816 as a pharmaceutical manufacturer. Started chocolate bar production in 1836 |
| Michel Cluizel | France | 1948 | Michel Cluizel has been a manufacturer of high-quality chocolate in the French town of Damville in Normandy since 1948, and also has a store in Paris. | |
| Mindo Chocolate Makers | United States and Ecuador | 2009 | chocolate bars, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa mass, raw whole beans, nibs | Member of the Craft Chocolate Makers of America. A micro-batch bean to bar chocolate maker which ferments and roasts beans. Practices Direct Trade. |
| Mondelez International | United States | 1896 | Milka, Suchard, Toblerone, Côte d'Or, Marabou, Cadbury and many others | Bought Cadburys in 2009 |
| Natra | Spain | 1950 | No brands, only private label products and co-production for third parties | Independent producer of chocolate and chocolate products, focusing on the private label business. |
| Nestlé | Switzerland | 1866 | Nestlé, and many others | |
| Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company | United States and Ghana | 1991 | Corporate headquarters in the US; chocolate grown and processed in Ghana | |
| Pacari Chocolate | Ecuador | 2002 | Raw whole beans, nibs, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, cacao butter, and other chocolate covered products | First chocolate company to receive biodynamic certification. Cacao is produced using fair trade practices in Ecuador. Products are certified Kosher and Organic. |
| Patric Chocolate | United States | 2006 | Craft chocolate maker of bean-to-bar products. The product line includes dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, and chocolate bars with inclusions. | Winners of the 2016 Good Food Awards in the chocolate category. [9] |
| Perugina | Italy | 1907 | Baci chocolate, Italian chocolate, pernigotti gianduiotti, glacia mints, sorrento hard candy, spicchi hard candy, perugina glacia mints, perugina sorrento, lazzaroni cookies | Now a division of Nestlé. |
| Peter | Switzerland | 1867 | Gala Peter, the first successful milk chocolate bar | Founded by Daniel Peter in Vevey. Independent until 1904 |
| Rick Jordan Chocolatier | United States (St. Louis, MO) | 2011 | Organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolates and confections | Winner of Dessert Professional Top Ten Chocolatiers of North America 2012. [10] |
| Roshen | Ukraine | 1996 | Chocolate bars, candy, chocolate cakes, etc. | Owned by the former president of Ukraine. |
| Royce' | Japan | 1983 | ||
| Scharffen Berger | United States | 1996 | Chocolate bars, varieties of dark chocolate | Purchased by Hershey in 2005; the original Berkeley, California factory closed in 2009. |
| Stollwerck | Germany | 1839 | Sprengel, Sarotti, Gubor, Quintie KFT, Thüringer Schokoladenwerk GmbH | Owned since 2002 by Barry Callebaut. They also operated a museum—adjacent to the factory—in Cologne Germany. It is now operated by Lindt. |
| August Storck | Germany | 1903 | A Berlin-based confectionery company in operation for more than 100 years | |
| Suchard | Switzerland | 1826 | Chocolate bars, powder, and candies | Founded in Neuchâtel in 1826 by Philippe Suchard. Independent producer until 1970 |
| Swisslion Group | Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1962 | Bean to bar - dark/milk/white chocolate bars (Daria, Duo), Choco Banana, chocolate spread (Eurocrem), chocolate biscuits (Ressana, Choco Biscuit), chocolate wafers (Linea) | A multinational manufacturer in Southeastern Europe, with factories in Serbia (Vršac and Gornji Milanovac), Macedonia (Resen and Skopje), Croatia (Sisak) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trebinje). Founded in 1962, headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia. |
| Taza Chocolate | United States | 2006 | Bean-to-bar organic, stone ground chocolate | |
| TCHO Chocolate | United States | 2005 | Bean-to-bar chocolate factory. Has a program called TCHOSource where they partner with bean farmers to help them improve the quality of their crops and to process their beans more effectively. | |
| Theo Chocolate | United States | 2006 | Bean-to-bar chocolate factory. The first chocolate manufacturer in the US to be both 100 percent organic and fair-trade. [11] | |
| Thorntons | United Kingdom | 1911 | Different styles and types of chocolate | Thorntons today is a £180 million turnover company with 360 shops and cafes and 230 franchises together with internet, mail order, and commercial services. |
| Tobler/Toblerone | Switzerland | 1899 | Distinctive triangular chocolate bars | Chocolate factory founded in 1899 by Theodor Tobler in Bern. Creation of Toblerone bar in 1908. Independent producer until 1970 |
| Toms International | Denmark | 1924 | Produces chocolate, liquorice and sugar confectionery | Toms employs 1,200–1,700 employees depending on season and annually produces 50,000 tons of chocolate and sugar confectionery |
| Traidcraft | United Kingdom | 1979 | The company has two components: a public limited company called Traidcraft plc, which sells fairly traded products in the United Kingdom; and a development charity called Traidcraft Exchange that works with poor producers in Africa and Asia. They sold the first fair trade chocolate in the United Kingdom.[ citation needed ] | |
| Ülker | Turkey | 1944 | Owners of Godiva Chocolatier | |
| Valrhona | France | 1922 | Couverture used by many chocolatiers | |
| Venchi | Italy | 1878 | Gourmet candy bars, novelty spreads, chocolate-coated caviar, extra-dark chocolate, and chocolate bars with nuts | Venchi uses cocoa originating from plantations in Central/South America and Africa, distilled rum from the Caribbean, as well as natural vanilla. |
| Venezuelan Black | United Kingdom | 1998 | Small producer of single estate 100% chocolate bars using Venezuelan cacao. The company's launch was televised as the series Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory was aired in the United Kingdom during 2008. | |
| Verkade | Netherlands | 1886 | Verkade's products are available through resellers. | |
| Villars-Maitre-Chocolatier | Switzerland | 1901 | Their chocolate contains a lot of stirred-in and covered nuts. | |
| Whitman's | United States | 1842 | Best known for Whitman's Sampler; now a part of Russell Stover Candies | |
| Whittaker's | New Zealand | 1896 | Various flavors of slab chocolate, family-sized bars, almond gold, and K-Bars | James Henry Whittaker started the business in Christchurch in 1896 and it was later moved to Wellington. |
| Wilbur Chocolate | United States | 1884 | Purchased by Cargill in 1992. | |
| World's Finest Chocolate | United States | 1949 | The company is known for chocolate bars commonly sold by schools and social service organizations as part of fundraisers | Family-owned and based in Chicago for over 50 years; purchased by Barry Callebaut in March 2015 |
| Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur | Austria | 1999 | More than 365 varieties of hand-scooped, filled chocolates, single origin chocolate bars, pralines, couvertures, cocoa nibs, dragees, cakes, ice cream and coffee | Award-winning chocolate, [12] named "by far the most innovative chocolatier of all" amongst the world-best chocolate manufacturers by chocolate tester Georg Bernardini [13] [14] |
Cadbury, formerly Cadbury's and Cadbury Schweppes, is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelez International since 2010. It is the second-largest confectionery brand in the world, after Mars. Cadbury is internationally headquartered in Greater London, and operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. It is known for its Dairy Milk chocolate, the Creme Egg and Roses selection box, and many other confectionery products. One of the best-known British brands, in 2013 The Daily Telegraph named Cadbury among Britain's most successful exports.
The Hershey Company, often called just Hershey or Hershey's, is an American multinational confectionery company headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, which is also home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World. The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world; it also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products. The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, originally established as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. The Hershey Trust Company owns a minority stake but retains a majority of the voting power within the company.
Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services, with US$45 billion in annual sales in 2022. The company was ranked as the fourth-largest privately held company in the United States by Forbes. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the company is entirely owned by the Mars family. Mars operates in four business segments around the world: Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Petcare, Food, and MARS Edge, the company's life sciences division.
Ferrero International SA, more commonly known as Ferrero Group or simply Ferrero, is an Italian multinational company with headquarters in Alba. Ferrero is a manufacturer of branded chocolate and confectionery products, and the second biggest chocolate producer and confectionery company in the world. Ferrero SA is a private company owned by the Ferrero family and has been described as "one of the world's most secretive firms". Reputation Institute's 2009 survey ranked Ferrero as the most reputable company in the world.
J.H. Whittaker & Sons, Ltd (Whittaker's) is a confectionery manufacturer specialising in palm oil-free chocolate and based in Porirua, New Zealand. Whittaker's is the largest chocolate brand in New Zealand. Approximately 30% of their production is now exported. The company controls its entire manufacturing process in its facility in Porirua, identifying itself as a "bean-to-bar" manufacturer. James Henry Whittaker (1868–1947) started the business in Christchurch in 1896 and it was later moved to Wellington.
Aero is an aerated chocolate bar manufactured by the Vevey-based company Nestlé. Originally produced by Rowntree's, Aero bars were introduced in 1935 to the North of England as the "new chocolate". By the end of that year, it had proved sufficiently popular with consumers that sales were extended throughout the United Kingdom.
Scharffen Berger is an American chocolate manufacturing company, which was a subsidiary of The Hershey Company after it had been acquired in 2005. Scharffen Berger was established as an independent Berkeley, California-based chocolate maker in 1996 by sparkling wine maker John Scharffenberger and physician Robert Steinberg.
A chocolatier is a person or company who makes confectioneries from chocolate. Chocolatiers are distinct from chocolate makers, who create chocolate from cacao beans and other ingredients. They are pastry chefs or confectioners who specialize in chocolate and making chocolate candies. Chocolatiers work artisanally with ready-made chocolate mass and are therefore distinct from industrial chocolate makers.
Chocolate is a food product made from roasted and ground cocoa pods mixed with fat and powdered sugar to produce a solid confectionery. There are several types of chocolate, classified primarily according to the proportion of cocoa and fat content used in a particular formulation.
Côte d'Or is a producer of Belgian chocolate, owned by Mondelez International. Côte d'Or was founded in 1883 by Charles Neuhaus in Schaerbeek, Belgium, a chocolate manufacturer who used the name "Côte d'Or" referring to the old name of contemporary Ghana, the source of many of the cacao beans used in chocolate manufacturing.
Barry Callebaut AG is a Swiss-Belgian cocoa processor and chocolate manufacturer, with an average annual production of 2.3 million tonnes of cocoa & chocolate . It was created in 1996 through the merging of the French company Cacao Barry and the Belgian chocolate producer Callebaut. It is currently based in Zürich, Switzerland, and operates in over 30 countries worldwide. It was created in its present form by Klaus Johann Jacobs.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to chocolate:
Mondelez International, Inc., styled as Mondelēz International, is an American multinational confectionery, food, holding, beverage and snack food company based in Chicago. Mondelez has an annual revenue of about $26.5 billion and operates in approximately 160 countries. It ranked No. 108 in the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.
Janice Wong is a Singaporean artist, chocolatier, chef, and entrepreneur. In addition to restaurants, dessert bars, and retail ventures, she is known for her edible art installations. She has won multiple awards, including being named "Asia’s Best Pastry Chef" two years in a row by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants award sponsored by S.Pellegrino. Her single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate brand, Janice Wong Pure Imagination, has retail outlets and production facilities in Singapore.
Ruby chocolate is a style or distinct variety of chocolate that is pinkish or purple in colour. Barry Callebaut, a Belgian–Swiss cocoa company, introduced it as a distinct product on 5 September 2017 after beginning development of their product in 2004. It has a pink color, and Barry Callebaut says it is a fourth natural type of chocolate. Some other industry experts have said that some cacao pods are naturally pink or purple in colour, and thus pink chocolate has been available before.
Bean-to-bar is a trade model in which a bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer controls the manufacturing of chocolate from the procurement of beans to the creation of the end product of consumer chocolate.
