Alter Eco
Alter Eco is a PE-backed, US-based organic food company founded in 2005 that produces Swiss-made chocolate, truffles, granola, and quinoa from regeneratively-farmed Ecuadorian cacao, selling through DTC subscriptions, Amazon, and natural grocery chains across the US, Canada, and Australia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Alter Eco does
Alter Eco is a privately held, US-domiciled premium organic food company founded in 2005 by Mathieu Senard and Edouard Rollet, currently led by CEO Keith Bearden and owned by private equity sponsor Trek One Capital since 2023. The company produces Swiss-made organic dark chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, truffle thins, oat clusters, granola, and heirloom quinoa from Ecuadorian cacao, distributed via owned e-commerce with a 15%-discount subscription program, the Amazon marketplace, wholesale distributors (KeHE, UNFI, Cavallaro, Nassau Candy), and shelf placement in natural/organic grocery chains including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers, Wegmans, Fresh Thyme, and MOM's Organic Market across the US, Canada, and Australia.
The company's core technical and sourcing platform is built around regenerative agriculture — specifically dynamic agroforestry for cacao cultivation in Ecuador, supported by the affiliated Alter Eco Foundation — alongside proprietary home-compostable chocolate packaging (TÜV AUSTRIA-certified since 2013) and a multi-certification stack spanning USDA Organic, Fair for Life Fair Trade, B Corp (since 2009, score 157.1 in 2025), The Climate Label, Plastic Neutral, and Gluten-Free Food Program (<5ppm). Carbon neutrality has been maintained since 2010 via partnership with Pur Projet. Manufacturing is outsourced to a Swiss chocolatier, with cacao sourced from Ecuadorian agroforestry cooperatives and quinoa from Bolivia.
Revenue mechanics combine unit-priced DTC sales, subscription recurring revenue with 15% retention pricing, retail wholesale through distributors, and marketplace sales. The current product mix is anchored by chocolate bars (multiple cacao percentages and flavors) and is being extended into snack adjacencies such as the 2026-launched Dark Chocolate Oat Clusters. Distribution is multi-channel but concentrated in the natural/organic retail tier, with no disclosed mass-market, food-service, or international enterprise contracts. The business model is differentiated primarily by sustainability credentials and ethical sourcing rather than scale, technology, or pricing aggressiveness.
Alter Eco firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Alter Eco
- Legal name
- Alter Eco Foods
- Website
- https://alterecofoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Alter Eco is a PE-backed, US-based organic food company founded in 2005 that produces Swiss-made chocolate, truffles, granola, and quinoa from regeneratively-farmed Ecuadorian cacao, selling through DTC subscriptions, Amazon, and natural grocery chains across the US, Canada, and Australia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Alter Eco industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Organic Premium Chocolate & Snacks
- NAICS
- Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351), All Other Specialty Food Retailers (445298)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly) (CRAHAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health, Organic & Natural Grocery Wholesale (AFAIABAI), Organic Bakery & Confectionery Wholesale (AFAIAJAG)
Keywords
Where Alter Eco is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Alter Eco business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Alter Eco generates revenue through direct sales of organic chocolate bars, truffles, truffle thins, oat clusters, granola, and quinoa products via its e-commerce platform. The company offers subscription plans with 15% discounts to drive recurring revenue.
- Retail Distribution: Products sold through natural and organic grocery retail chains including Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Natural Grocers, and other regional retailers. Distribution also handled through wholesale distributors like KeHE and UNFI.
- Amazon Marketplace: Products available for purchase through Amazon marketplace, reaching additional consumers beyond direct-to-consumer and retail channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard individual product pricing with volume discounts on multi-packs |
| Subscription | Monthly | Subscription program offering 15% discount on all recurring orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Alter Eco product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Alter Eco manufactures and sells premium organic dark chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, truffle thins, oat clusters, granola, and fair-trade quinoa through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce subscription site and natural/organic grocery retail channels. Products are Swiss-made from Ecuadorian cacao, USDA Organic, Fair for Life Fair Trade, gluten-free, and packaged in compostable or recycled materials, with the company operating as a Certified B Corporation since 2009.
Product overview
Alter Eco is a food company specializing in organic chocolate, granola, and quinoa products. The product portfolio consists of Dark Chocolate Bars (Swiss-made in varieties from 47% to 100% cacao), Chocolate Truffles (with compostable wrappers), Truffle Thins, Oat Clusters, Organic Granola, and Pearl Heirloom Quinoa. The company emphasizes regenerative agriculture, fair trade practices, and sustainable packaging across its product lines. Products are available through direct-to-consumer subscription and the Build a Box bundle customization system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Dark Chocolate Bars Swiss-made organic dark chocolate bars in multiple varieties including Super Blackout (90% cacao), Classic Blackout (85% cacao), Mint Blackout, Sea Salt, Quinoa Crunch, Total Blackout, Coconut Toffee, Almond Blackout, Orange Blackout, Raspberry Blackout, Brown Butter, Burnt Caramel, and Coffee Brittle. All bars are organic, non-GMO, and dairy-free (except those containing butterfat).
- Chocolate Truffles Organic dark chocolate truffles with Ecuadorian cacao and coconut oil centers, available in Classic Dark, Superdark, Salted Caramel, Mint Crème, Sea Salt, Silk Velvet, and Assorted varieties. Packaged in TÜV AUSTRIA-certified home compostable wrappers.
- Truffle Thins Thin chocolate bars with truffle filling combining chocolate bar texture with chocolate truffle indulgence. Varieties include Mint Crème, Salted Caramel, Crème Brûlée, Raspberry Crème, Sweet Ginger, and Passion Fruit Crème.
- Oat Clusters Organic granola-style clusters combining oats with chocolate or nut butters. Varieties include Dark Chocolate Oat Clusters, Almond Butter Oat Clusters, and Cashew Butter Oat Clusters.
- Organic Granola Organic granola with no added sugar, made with regeneratively-farmed oats. Varieties include Dark Chocolate Granola, Cashew Butter Granola, Cinnamon Raisin Granola, and Almond Butter Granola. Packaged in post-consumer recycled material.
- Pearl Heirloom Quinoa Fair trade organic quinoa from Bolivia, revered by ancient Incas as 'mother grain.' Fluffier and nuttier than common quinoa varieties, without bitterness.
- Subscription Program Recurring delivery subscription service offering 15% discount on every shipment. Customers can swap flavors, skip deliveries, or gift subscriptions. Subscription orders over $85 receive free shipping.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% of carbon emissions measured and offset since 2010
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Alter Eco
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Alter Eco technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Alter Eco partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- rePurpose GlobalcorerePurpose Global is a social enterprise dedicated to fighting plastic waste. Alter Eco partnered with rePurpose Global to achieve Plastic Neutral certification, investing in efforts to recover as much plastic from nature as the company uses.
- Pur ProjetcorePartnership established in 2010 for carbon offsetting programs. Pur Projet supports Alter Eco in planting and protecting trees in Central and South America to offset 100% of company emissions.
- The Change Climate Project (TCCP)coreTCCP is the nonprofit organization behind The Climate Label certification. They provide the Business Emissions Evaluator (BEE) software for Alter Eco to measure and manage carbon emissions and invest in climate solutions.
- Ecocert (Fair for Life)coreEcocert administers the Fair for Life Fair Trade certification program for Alter Eco, providing third-party verification of fair trade practices, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability.
- TÜV AUSTRIAcoreTÜV AUSTRIA provides Home Compostable certification for Alter Eco's chocolate truffle wrappers, verifying they decompose naturally in home compost conditions.
- Gluten-Free Food Program (GFFP)coreGFFP, endorsed by the National Celiac Association, certifies Alter Eco products as gluten-free meeting strict standards of less than 5ppm gluten.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Alter Eco competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Endangered Species Chocolate: U.S. premium chocolate brand focused on organic, fair-trade, and ethically sourced bars and truffles sold through natural grocery and mass channels. Closest direct peer to Alter Eco on product format (bars/truffles), target customer (health/ethical consumers), and natural-channel distribution.
- Theo Chocolate: Seattle-based bean-to-bar organic and fair-trade chocolate maker selling bars and confections through natural grocery and DTC. Comparable on cacao sourcing transparency, organic/fair-trade certifications, and premium pricing.
- Hu Kitchen: Premium paleo-friendly, organic chocolate bars and snacking products sold in Whole Foods, Sprouts, and other natural retailers. Direct competitor in the better-for-you premium chocolate aisle with overlapping distribution and customer base.
- Pascha Chocolate: Organic, fair-trade, allergen-free chocolate brand focused on dark chocolate bars. Comparable niche positioning around organic, fair-trade, and allergen-friendly certifications targeting health-conscious consumers.
- Equal Exchange: Worker-cooperative producing fairly traded, organic chocolate bars and other foods. Direct peer in fair-trade organic chocolate with overlapping natural-channel distribution and ethical-sourcing positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Green & Black's: Premium organic chocolate brand owned by Mondelez, offering organic bars and ice cream across mainstream grocery in the U.S. and UK. Larger incumbent with overlapping organic chocolate product set and broader distribution scale.
- Ghirardelli: Mass-market premium chocolate brand with broad organic and non-organic product lines sold across grocery, club, and foodservice. Represents the larger incumbent competitive set that Alter Eco faces on retail shelves.
Emerging players
- Lily's Sweets: Better-for-you chocolate brand specializing in stevia-sweetened, no-sugar-added bars and baking chips sold in natural and mainstream grocery. Emerging competitor in the better-for-you chocolate category adjacent to Alter Eco's health-conscious positioning.
- Made Good: Allergen-free, organic granola bars, cookies, and snacks sold through natural and mainstream grocery. Comparable on organic/allergen-friendly certifications, healthy-snack positioning, and natural-channel distribution; overlapping category with Alter Eco's Oat Clusters.
- Unreal Snacks: Better-for-you chocolate snacks (nuggets, peanut butter cups, bars) positioned as cleaner alternatives to mainstream candy, sold in natural and mass grocery. Adjacent emerging competitor in better-for-you confectionery/snacks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Alter Eco social profiles
Digital presenceAlter Eco compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Alter Eco financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Alter Eco leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Alter Eco subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Alter Eco funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Alter Eco M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Alter Eco
What does Alter Eco do?
Alter Eco manufactures and sells premium organic dark chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, truffle thins, oat clusters, granola, and fair-trade quinoa through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce subscription site and natural/organic grocery retail channels. Products are Swiss-made from Ecuadorian cacao, USDA Organic, Fair for Life Fair Trade, gluten-free, and packaged in compostable or recycled materials, with the company operating as a Certified B Corporation since 2009.
Is Alter Eco a public or private company?
Alter Eco is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Alter Eco founded?
Alter Eco was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Alter Eco based?
Alter Eco is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Alter Eco make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution and amazon Marketplace.
Who are Alter Eco's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Endangered Species Chocolate, Theo Chocolate, Hu Kitchen, Pascha Chocolate and Equal Exchange. Broad incumbents are Green & Black's and Ghirardelli. Emerging players are Lily's Sweets, Made Good and Unreal Snacks.
Does Alter Eco have an API?
No public API is recorded for Alter Eco.
What industry is Alter Eco in?
Alter Eco's product category is Organic Premium Chocolate & Snacks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAEAE, Natural Specialty Food Stores (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Keto, Allergy-Friendly), with a secondary code of AFAIABAI, Health, Organic & Natural Grocery Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 311351 and its SIC code is 2000.