List of bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers

This is a list of companies who produce chocolate, not chocolates. That is, they process 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 aim to control the whole process to improve quality, working conditions, or environmental impact.[1]

Company Location Year Founded Products Website Notes
Ah Cacao Real Chocolate Mexico 2003 Single origin chocolate bars, other chocolate products. www.ahcacao.com Artisan producer of dark chocolate and related products made of Mexican cacao. Supports wildlife conservation.
Amano Artisan Chocolate USA
(Orem, UT)
Single origin chocolate (bars, couverture), cocoa nibs. www.amanochocolate.com 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 www.amedei.com Amedei is a luxury chocolate manufacturing company located in Pontedera in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Amul India 1946 www.amul.com
Askinosie Chocolate USA
(Springfield, MO)
2007 Single origin chocolate bars (dark, dark milk, white), single origin natural cocoa powder, roasted cocoa nibs. www.askinosie.com 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 USA to press their own cocoa butter—the other is Cacao Prieto.
Barry Callebaut Switzerland 1996 Acticoa, Alprose, Sarotti, Jacques www.barry-callebaut.com Large producer of couverture, used in many chocolate products.
Bonnat Chocolates France 1884 More than 40 single origins bars. www.bonnat-chocolatier.com Bonnat Chocolatier is the oldest artisan producer of chocolate in the world, producing around 100 tons per year. Bonnat was the first chocolate maker to create single-origin and single-estate chocolate bars. Bonnat began exporting chocolate to the French colonies in 1919.[3]
Cocoa Processing Company Ltd Ghana 1981 Golden Tree chocolate bars, chocolate beverages. www.goldentreeghana.com 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.
Divine Chocolate Company UK 1998 Divine (range of chocolates) and Dubble (for children). www.divinechocolate.com All products carry the Fairtrade Mark. Co-owned by a co-operative of Ghanaian cocoa farmers. (Products are made by third parties. Divine is not a bean-to-bar manufacturer. They should be removed from this list)
Domori Italy 1997 Criollo 100%, Single Origins and Blend bars, couverture chocolate, roasted cocoa beans,chocolate coated whole fruit, dragées. www.domori.com Founded in 1997 by Gianluca Franzoni, Domori was born out of the creative mind and the passion for gastronomy and cocoa. Domori is the first company in the world to produce the 100% Criollo bar, with no added lecithin, flavourings or sugar, simply pure cacao paste. Domori was also the first company in the world to create a chocolate tasting code, involving all the five senses in a unique sensorial experience. Domori has its headquarters in None, just outside Turin, Italy and since 2006 has been part of Illy Group.
El Rey Chocolates Venezuela 1929 www.chocolates-elrey.com El Rey uses only 100% Venezuelan cacao, fermented and sun dried, and processed using state-of-the-art technology. From this marriage of art and science are born unique chocolate couvertures that redefine world standards of excellence.
Equal Exchange USA
(West Bridgewater, MA)
1986 Chocolate bars, candy bars, chocolate chips, chocolate minis, baking cocoa, and drinking (hot) cocoa www.equalexchange.coop One of the largest sellers of Fair Trade and Organic chocolate in the United States. They also operate an online retail store (an e-store), and they have special arrangements for groups that are fundraising. (Products are made by third parties. EE is not a bean-to-bar manufacturer. They should be removed from this list.)
Ethel M Chocolates USA
(Henderson, NV)
1980 Brittle chocolate-flavored candies, caramels, and fine liqueur-filled chocolates. www.ethelm.com Ethel M. Chocolates is owned by Mars Inc.
E. Wedel Warsaw, Poland
(Henderson, NV)
1851 High-quality chocolates, cakes, and snacks. Ptasie Mleczko (bird's milk) - chocolate covered marshmallow; Mieszanka Wedlowska - assorted chocolate covered candy; Torcik Wedlowski (Wedel tort) - a large, circular, chocolate covered wafer with hand-made decorations; Pawełek - chocolate bar with a flavored filling that contains a small amount of alcohol. www.wedel.pl E. Wedel is owned by Lotte Group
Favarger Switzerland 1826 Avelines, Nougalines www.favarger.ch/en
Fazer Helsinki, Finland 1891 www.fazer.com 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.
Freia Norway 1889 Made successful by Throne-Holst, who also founded Marabou www.freia.no Acquired in 1993 by Kraft Foods, which is now known as Mondelez.
Frey Switzerland 1887 #1 in popularity in Switzerland www.chocolatfrey.com Acquired in 1950 by Migros
Garoto Brazil 1929 www.garoto.com.br Acquired in 2002 by Nestlé.
Ghirardelli USA
(San Francisco, CA)
1852 Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco is named after this chocolate-making family. www.ghirardelli.com Since 1998, owned by Lindt & Sprüngli.
Guittard USA
(Burlingame, CA)
1850s Makes couverture chocolate using original formulas and traditional French methods. www.guittard.com Supplies chocolate to See's Candies
Hachez Germany 1890 Truffles, chocolate candies, chocolate bars, and chocolate coins. www.hachez.de The Bremer HACHEZ Chocolade GmbH & Co. was established by Joseph Emile Hachez, a chocolatier of Belgian origin, on July 1, 1890.
Haigh's Chocolates Adelaide, Australia 1915 www.haighschocolates.com.au Haigh’s is the oldest family-owned chocolate manufacturing retailer in Australia.
Hershey's USA
(Hershey, PA)
1894 Hershey's, Hershey's Kisses, KitKat, Bliss, Heath Bar, Reese's, Dagoba, Scharffen Berger and many others. Click to view Hershey products listed. (Hershey ceased bean-to-bar manufacturing around 2007 or 2008. They produce only the Sharffen Berger from bean to bar. [4] www.thehersheycompany.com
Hotel Chocolat UK 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. www.hotelchocolat.com 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 Lucian and Ghana, seeking to provide farmers with a fair price and necessary support.
J. S. Fry & Sons UK 1761 Merged with Cadbury in 1919.
Kalev Estonia 1806 www.kalev.ee Most or all products under the Kalev namebrand.
Kraft Foods USA
(Northfield, IL)
1903 Milka, Suchard, Toblerone, Côte d'Or, Marabou, Cadbury and many others www.kraft.com Bought Cadburys in 2009.
Kraš Croatia 1911 Milk chocolates (Dorina), chocolate bars, (Dorina, Životinjsko carstvo, Bajadera), nougat desserts and more www.kras.hr/en Founded 1911 as Union, incorporated in 1950, located in Zagreb, Croatia.
Laima (confectioner) Riga, Latvia 1870 www.laima.lv
Lindt & Sprüngli Switzerland 1845 Lindt, Lindor www.lindtusa.com Lindt developed the conching process. Lindt & Sprüngli bought Ghirardelli Chocolates in 1998.
Mars, Incorporated USA
(McLean, Virginia)
1911 M&Ms, Snickers, Dove Chocolate, and others. www.mars.com Large chocolate manufacturer, with $30 billion USD revenue in 2008.
Mayordomo Oaxaca, Mexico Table chocolate, Mole www.chocolatemayordomo.com.mx Producer of chocolate made from local cacao. Stores often will mix beans with other ingredients and grind it to customer specifications.
Michel Cluizel France 1948 www.cluizel.com Michel Cluizel has been a manufacturer of high-quality chocolate in the French town of Damville in Normandy since 1948. Michel Cluizel also has a store in Paris.
Mindo Chocolate Makers Ecuador (Mindo) and USA (Dexter, MI) 2009 Produce raw whole beans, nibs, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa mass. www.mindochocolate.com Member of the Craft Chocolate Makers of America. A micro-batch bean to bar chocolate maker who ferments and roasts beans. Practices Direct Trade.
Natra Spain 1950 No brands, only private label products and co-production for third parties www.natra.es Independent producer of chocolate and chocolate products, focusing on the private label business.
Nestlé Switzerland 1866 Nestlé, and many others. www.nestle.com
Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company USA & Ghana 1991 www.omanhene.com Corporate headquarters in US, chocolate grown and processed in Ghana.
Pacari Chocolate Ecuador 2002 Produces raw whole beans, nibs, chocolate bars, baking chocolate, cocoa powder, cacao butter, and other chocolate covered products. www.pacarichocolate.com First chocolate company to receive biodynamic certification. Cacao is produced using fair trade practices in Ecuador. Products are certified Kosher and Organic.
Patric Chocolate USA
(Columbia, MO)
2006 Craft chocolate maker of bean-to-bar products. The product line includes dark chocolate bars, milk chocolate bars, and chocolate bars with inclusions. www.Patric-Chocolate.com
Perugina Italy & USA 1907 Baci chocolate, Italian chocolate, pernigotti gianduiotti, glacia mints, sorrento hard candy, spicchi hard candy, perugina glacia mints, perugina sorrento, lazzaroni cookies. www.perugina.com Now a division of Nestlé.
Royce' Japan 1983 www.e-royce.com The fundamental principle of Royce' has been and will always be to painstakingly source for high quality ingredients, and to sell its products at prices that customers can afford for daily consumption.
Scharffen Berger USA
(Robinson, IL)
1996 Chocolate bars, varieties of dark chocolate. www.scharffenberger.com Purchased by Hershey in 2005; original Berkeley, CA factory closed in 2009.
Stollwerck Germany 1839 Sprengel, Sarotti, Gubor, Quintie KFT, Thüringer Schokoladenwerk GmbH www.stollwerck.de Owned since 2002 by Barry Callebaut. They also operated a museum—adjacent to the factory—in Cologne Germany. It is now operated by Lindt.
Storck Germany 1903 www.storck.us A Berlin based confectionary company in operation for more than 100 years.
Swisslion Group Serbia, Republic of Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1962 Bean to bar - dark/milk/white chocolate bars (‘Daria’, ‘Duo’), ‘Choco Banana’, chocolate spread (Eurocrem Takovo), chocolate biscuits (‘Ressana’, ‘Choco Biscuit’), chocolate wafers (‘Linea’) and more. www.swisslion-takovo.com A multinational manufacturer in Southeastern Europe, with factories in Serbia (Vršac & Gornji Milanovac), Republic of Macedonia (Resen & Skopje), Croatia (Sisak) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trebinje). Founded in 1962, headquartered in Belgrade, Serbia.
Taza Chocolate USA
(Somerville, MA)
2006 Bean-to-bar organic, stone ground chocolate www.tazachocolate.com
Theo Chocolate USA
(Seattle, WA)
2006 High quality chocolate from world's best cacao beans www.theochocolate.com Bean-to-bar chocolate factory
Thorntons UK 1911 Different styles and types of chocolate produced www.thorntons.co.uk Thorntons today is a £180 million turnover company with 360 shops and cafes and 230 franchises together with internet, mail order, and commercial services.
Traidcraft UK 1979 www.traidcraft.co.uk (Traidcraft has two main websites: an informational site on Traidcraft and fair trade, and a webstore for the sale of fair trade products). 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 UK.
Ülker Turkey 1944 www.ulker.com.tr/en Owners of Godiva Chocolatier.
Valrhona France 1922 www.valrhona-chocolate.com Couverture used by many chocolatiers.
Vanparys Belgium 1889 Chocolate dragées, almond dragées, mini dragées, chocolate coated whole fruit, chocolate coated almonds and hazelnuts, coffee & chocolate, cake decorations, easter products www.vanparys.eu The company produces chocolate and sugar coated confections (i.e. almonds, nuts etc.), but is particularly known for its dragées (sugar-coated chocolate and almonds).
Venchi Italy 1878 Gourmet candy bars, novelty spreads, chocolate-coated caviar, extra-dark chocolate, and chocolate bars with nuts www.venchi.it/en Venchi uses cocoa originating from plantations in Central/South America and Africa, distilled rum from the Caribbean, as well as natural vanilla.
Venezuelan Black UK 1998 www.venezuelan-black.co.uk Small producer of single estate 100% chocolate bars using Venezuelan cacao. The companies launch was televised as the series Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory was aired in the UK during 2008.
Verkade Netherlands 1886 www.verkade.nl Verkade's products are available through resellers.
Villars-Maitre-Chocolatier Switzerland 1901 www.chocolat-villars.com Their chocolate contains a lot of stirred-in and covered nuts.
Whitman's USA 1842 Best known for Whitman's Sampler, now a part of Russell Stover. www.whitmans.com Because Whitman's is owned by Russell Stover, if you click on the URL, you will be redirected to Russell Stover's site, and shown imagery of Whitman's products.
Whittaker's New Zealand 1896 Various flavors of slab chocolate, family-sized bars, almond gold, and K-Bars. www.whittakers.co.nz James Henry Whittaker started the business in Christchurch in 1896 and it was later moved to Wellington.
Wilbur Chocolate USA
(Lititz, PA)
1884 www.wilburchocolate.com Purchased by Cargill in 1992.
World's Finest Chocolate USA
(Chicago, IL)
1949 The company is known for chocolate bars commonly sold by schools and social service organizations as part of fundraisers. www.worldsfinestchocolate.com Family-owned and based in Chicago for over 50 years. Purchased by Blommer Chocolate Company.

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