What Cacao Hunters does

Cacao Hunters (legal entity Cacao de Colombia S.A.S.) is a Colombian fine chocolate company headquartered in Popayán, Cauca, that sources single-origin cacao directly from over 2,300 farming families across nine Colombian regions and transforms it into a portfolio of premium chocolate bars, Hunters Mini tablets, bites/snacks, hot chocolate mix, cacao nibs, and curated tasting sets. Its underlying technology is artisanal rather than digital: the company controls post-harvest fermentation and drying directly in the field with producer communities, preserves heirloom cacao genetics (including formally Heirloom-certified Arhuacos cacao from the Arhuaco indigenous community in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), and maintains absolute farm-to-bar traceability across every batch. All production is ingredient-minimal — typically cacao, cane sugar, cacao butter, and select natural inclusions — with no artificial flavorings.

The company sells through two channels: a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront powered by Shopify (cacaohunters.com, with bilingual English/Spanish storefronts and Colombia-only shipping) offering 28g and 56g bars, 240g Hunters Mini tablets, 60g bites, and 1kg bulk formats at COP 13,900-COP 135,900 per unit, with a 5% volume discount on additional kilograms and free shipping above a threshold; and a dedicated wholesale and foodservice channel targeting artisan bakeries and Michelin-starred restaurants with bulk formats designed for professional use. Pricing is transactional pay-as-you-go with no subscription component, though an email newsletter captures demand with a 10% first-purchase incentive. Customer segments include premium chocolate consumers (primary), gift/corporate buyers, and foodservice professionals. The company was founded by Mayumi Ogata (also referenced as Mayumi Osaka) and Carlos Velasco, and has accumulated 192+ International Chocolate Awards between 2015 and 2025, making it the most awarded chocolate brand in Colombia.

Name

Cacao Hunters

Legal name

Cacao de Colombia S.A.S.

Website

https://cacaohunters.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cacao Hunters is a Colombian fine chocolate company that sources single-origin cacao directly from over 2,300 farming families across nine regions and sells premium chocolate bars, tablets, and snacks via Shopify DTC e-commerce and a wholesale/foodservice channel serving artisan bakeries and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Artisanal Chocolate

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Confectionery Patisseries (Bonbons, Truffles, Macarons) (THAFAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tea, Coffee & Cocoa Farming (Beverage Specialty Crops) (AFAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Artisanal chocolate
• Single-origin chocolate
• Craft chocolate bars
• Wholesale chocolate supply
• Cocoa bean sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Popayán

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Consumer purchases through company Shopify-powered website. Products sold in individual units (28g, 56g bars), multi-packs, and bulk 1kg formats. Revenue is transactional with no subscription component.
2. Wholesale & Foodservice B2B: Bulk chocolate sales to professional buyers including artisan bakeries, fine dining restaurants, and hospitality businesses. Products in wholesale-appropriate formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cacao Hunters produces and sells artisanal single-origin Colombian dark chocolate bars, tablets, bites, cacao nibs, hot chocolate mixes, and curated tasting sets, sourcing fine cacao directly from over 2,300 farming families across nine Colombian regions. The company controls post-harvest fermentation and roasting, delivering products with verified farm-to-bar traceability and certified Heirloom cacao varieties. Products are sold in individual and bulk formats to both premium consumers and professional foodservice buyers.

Product overview

Cacao Hunters is a fine Colombian chocolate company offering a portfolio of single-origin chocolate products organized into six main categories: Chocolate Bars (artisanal infused bars in various origins and flavors), Hunters Mini (small tablets in 240g and 1kg bulk formats), Bites - Snacks (chocolate-covered fruit and nibs in 60g packages), Wholesale & Foodservice (bulk formats for professional use), Bundles (curated tasting sets and gift kits), and Heirloom (bars from ancient cacao genetics). The company works directly with small-scale producers across nine Colombian regions including Sierra Nevada, Tumaco, Arauca, Magdalena, and Nariño, transforming fine cacao into exceptional chocolate with real impact, absolute traceability, and international recognition. With over 192 International Chocolate Awards between 2015-2025, the product line ranges from single-origin bars (Arhuacos 72%, Black Pearl 74%, Magdalena 73%) and infused bars (Hachimitsu 86%, Lemongrass 64%, Pepper 70%, Campesino 64%, Dorado 35%, Suave 65%) to specialty products like Coffee: Lab Edition, Hot Chocolate Mix, and Cacao Nibs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hunters Mini: Small chocolate tablets perfect for sharing or carrying.
• Heirloom
• Bites

Products and services

• Chocolate Bars Artisanal single-origin dark chocolate bars crafted from fine Colombian cacao in various cacao percentages and flavor infusions (lemongrass, pepper, honey). Each bar expresses the unique terroir and sensory profile of a distinct Colombian region. Available in 28g and 56g formats for retail consumers.
• Hunters Mini Small chocolate tablets available in 240g retail packs and 1kg bulk formats, in multiple single-origin varieties including Colombia 100%, Tumaco (70%, 82%), Sierra Nevada (64%, 72%), Arauca (70%), and Tumaco Milk (53%).
• Bites - Snacks Chocolate-covered fruit and cacao nibs in 60g packages, including Arauca 70% Bites, Colombia 100% Bites, Chocolate-Covered Cacao Nibs, Tumaco 82% Bites, Tumaco Milk 53% Bites, and Chocolate-Covered Goldenberries.
• Wholesale & Foodservice Award-winning Colombian cacao products in bulk formats (1kg) designed for professional performance, targeting artisan bakeries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and hospitality businesses seeking premium ethically sourced chocolate ingredients.
• Bundles and Tasting Sets Curated chocolate kits designed for gifting and tasting, including The Favorites Tasting Set, Single-Origin Tasting Set (Limited Edition), and Coffee: Lab Edition limited edition celebrating the bond between Colombian cacao and coffee.
• Heirloom Chocolate Bars Chocolate bars crafted from ancient cacao genetics with rare aromatic profiles preserved by indigenous communities, including Arhuacos 72% (certified Heirloom), Black Pearl 74%, and Magdalena 73%, each representing ancestral cacao varieties with exceptional flavor complexity.
• Tumaco 70% Hot Chocolate Mix Shredded 70% Tumaco chocolate designed for hot chocolate preparation; dissolve in hot water or milk to enjoy the aromas of Tumaco chocolate in a hot, frothy drink. Available in 240g and 1kg bulk formats.
• Tumaco Cacao Nibs Pure cacao nibs from Tumaco in 1kg bulk format, made from 100% cacao representing the world's best cacao varieties discovered in Colombia's regions.
• Arhuacos 72% Dark Chocolate Bar 72% dark chocolate made with fine cacao cultivated by Arhuaco indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, featuring floral, fresh, and deep notes. Recognized by TasteAtlas among the 100 best chocolates on the planet. Gluten-free, soy-free, fair trade.
• Black Pearl 74% Dark Chocolate Bar 74% Heirloom dark chocolate from Tumaco, Nariño. Features notes of wood, nut, caramel, and fruit, reflecting the intensity of an untamed territory.
• Magdalena 73% Dark Chocolate Bar 73% Heirloom dark chocolate from Aracataca, Magdalena, capturing the spirit and fertility of the Magdalena riverbanks with notes of red berries, panela, and fruit. Gluten-free and soy-free.

Quantifiable outcome

• 192+ awards at International Chocolate Awards (2015-2025): 87 gold, 58 silver, 34 bronze, 13 special mentions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Small-scale Colombian Cacao ProducerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect long-term relationships with over 2,300 cacao-growing families across 9 Colombian regions. Company works directly with producers on selection, fermentation, and roasting processes. Provides technical assistance (900+ hours annually), transfers COP 9.24 billion directly to communities (2025), and maintains 8,000+ hectares under agroforestry systems.
• Arhuaco Indigenous CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with indigenous Arhuaco community in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta for wild-harvested heirloom cacao. Community preserves ancestral cacao genetics for centuries. Products include certified Heirloom Arhuacos 72% bar.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powered by Shopify. Shopify processes payments, manages customer accounts, and provides infrastructure for the online store. Personal information is transmitted to and shared with Shopify.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Askinosie Chocolate: US bean-to-bar maker with direct-trade relationships and single-origin bars; comparable direct-sourcing model, traceability story, and small-scale premium positioning.
• Dandelion Chocolate: US bean-to-bar single-origin maker operating its own factory, retail stores, and wholesale channel; comparable craft production model and direct-trade supplier relationships.
• To'ak Chocolate: Ecuadorian ultra-premium aged single-origin chocolate built on heirloom Nacional cacao genetics and traceability storytelling; directly comparable to Cacao Hunters' Arhuaco heirloom positioning and farm-to-bar narrative.
• Amedei: Italian fine single-origin chocolate maker sourcing from specific plantations; similar premium positioning, single-origin SKU architecture, and award-driven brand strategy.
• Domori: Italian fine single-origin chocolate maker recognized for preserving rare Criollo cacao genetics; comparable to Cacao Hunters in its emphasis on heirloom varieties and terroir-driven single-origin bars.
• Pacari Chocolate: Ecuadorian single-origin, bean-to-bar chocolate maker working directly with smallholder farmers and known for premium Latin American origin bars; the closest geographic and business-model comparable to Cacao Hunters.
• Original Beans: Amsterdam-based single-origin chocolate maker sourcing from smallholder farmers with conservation-linked branding; comparable direct-trade model and origin storytelling to Cacao Hunters.

Broad incumbents

• Valrhona: Global leader in premium chocolate for professional pastry and fine-dining channels; directly comparable to Cacao Hunters' wholesale and foodservice B2B motion into bakeries and Michelin-level kitchens.
• Cacao Barry: Belgian premium chocolate brand (part of Barry Callebaut) focused on professional pastry chefs and origin-driven couverture; overlaps with Cacao Hunters' bulk and foodservice channel into artisan bakeries.
• Michel Cluizel: Established French fine chocolate maker with a wide single-origin portfolio and premium positioning; overlaps with Cacao Hunters in fine single-origin bars and high-end HoReCa distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cacaodecolombia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cacao Hunters