What Uncommon Cacao does

Uncommon Cacao is a specialty cacao supply chain operator founded in 2010 by Emily Stone and headquartered in Arvada, Colorado. The company sources fermented and dried premium and ultra-premium cocoa beans from 20+ origin-specific cooperatives and estates across 15+ countries (including Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Ghana, Uganda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines) and sells wholesale to premium and craft chocolate makers globally. Its signature platform component is the Transparent Trade Model—a system that publishes verifiable farmgate, CIF, FOB, and average sales prices for every transaction along the supply chain, paired with annual Transparency Reports. A proprietary Cacao Evaluation Protocol adds quality assurance through physical bean sampling, cut tests, Brix measurement, humidity and pH monitoring, metals and pathogen lab testing (cadmium, lead, salmonella, E. coli), and sensory evaluation using 100% cacao liquor prepared per the International Standards for Assessment of Cocoa Quality and Flavor Protocol.

The business operates on a wholesale bean sales model with three commercial tiers: sample orders up to 15kg at uniform per-kilogram pricing, full-sack wholesale orders at origin-variable pricing (50-70kg minimums), and reserved/forward inventory contracts requiring a 15% non-refundable deposit, 6-month reservation window, and $5/bag/month storage fee. Financing becomes available after a customer's third successful order. Distribution is handled directly via an e-commerce storefront for samples and small orders, and via enterprise sales for larger volumes, supported by four warehouses in Colorado, New Jersey, Oakland, and Amsterdam and a logistics team with 20+ years of combined experience. Ancillary revenue comes from logistics coordination, LTL freight, and Ecotact-branded packaging products. The supply network spans more than 10,000 smallholder producers, and customer-side impact is evidenced by 650+ international awards won by chocolate makers using Uncommon cacao, a 2024 B Corp score of 113.4 (62.5 points above median), and 2024 producer-base metrics including 2,349 female producers, 988 producers under 35, and 5,756 organic producers sourced from.

Revenue, funding history, and ownership details are largely undisclosed; the only known funding round dates to 2016 (Acumen and Pi Investments). No venture capital, external parent, or subsidiary relationships are evidenced. The company operates as a privately held B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, with leadership comprising Emily Stone (Founder & CEO), David Guendelman (CFO), Mike Albertini (Director of Operations), Benjamin Figarede (General Manager, Europe), Brian Pleitez (Fulfillment & Logistics Coordinator), and Paola Millan (Financial Advisor), alongside co-founders Jeff Pzena and Alex Whitmore.

Name

Uncommon Cacao

Legal name

Uncommon Cacao, Inc.

Website

https://uncommoncacao.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Uncommon Cacao is a specialty cacao supply chain operator that sources premium and ultra-premium fermented and dried beans from 20+ origins across 15+ countries and wholesales them to craft chocolate makers globally via a published Transparent Trade pricing and traceability model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Cacao Trading

NAICS

Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers (424430)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Coffee, Tea & Cocoa Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAD)

Keywords

• Specialty cacao sourcing
• Premium cocoa beans
• Transparent trade cacao
• Craft chocolate supply
• Cacao supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Arvada

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Cacao Bean Sales: Primary revenue from selling fermented and dried cacao beans to premium and craft chocolate makers. Products sold in sample sizes (up to 15kg) and wholesale quantities (full sacks of 50-70kg). Pricing varies by origin and volume. Sourced from 20+ origin partners across 15+ countries.
2. Logistics and Fulfillment Services: Arranges shipping within USA and Europe through LTL freight channels. Sample orders shipped via UPS, USPS, or DHL. International shipping arranged for customers with customs brokers. Storage fees apply for reserved cacao ($5 per bag per month).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Uncommon Cacao sources, evaluates, and distributes premium and ultra-premium fermented and dried cocoa beans from 20+ origin-specific cooperatives and farms across 15+ countries to craft and premium chocolate makers globally. The company also operates a Transparent Trade Model publishing verified pricing data across the entire supply chain, with warehouses in Colorado, New Jersey, Oakland, and Amsterdam supporting global wholesale and sample distribution.

Product overview

Uncommon Cacao is a specialty cacao trader operating as a unified platform that sources premium and ultra-premium fermented and dried cocoa beans from 20+ origin-specific cooperatives and farms across 15+ countries globally. Their core product portfolio centers on raw cocoa beans organized by geographic origin (e.g., Maya Mountain Belize, Öko Caribe Dominican Republic, Semuliki Forest Uganda, Marou Vietnam), each with distinct flavor profiles and certifications. The company also offers ancillary products including Ecotact packaging for bean storage and transport. Their service layer includes a Transparent Trade Model that publishes verified pricing data across the entire supply chain, and Cacao Evaluation Services involving physical and sensory quality testing protocols. All products are sold wholesale to craft and premium chocolate makers through an e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ABOCFA Cacao (Ghana) Organic and Fair Trade certified cocoa beans from a cooperative in Suhum, Ghana with a classic rich and fudgy flavor profile. Sold wholesale to chocolate makers.
• ADEMAYACH Cacao (Guatemala) Ultra-premium organic cacao from a small Q'eqchi' community in San Juan Chivite, Guatemala with pomelo, candied lemon, and roasted nibs flavor notes.
• CECAO Cacao (Ecuador) Classic Nacional Ecuador flavor profile with Fair for Life and organic certifications, sourced through 10 community-based member associations.
• Chanthaburi Cacao (Thailand) Ultra-premium cacao from Thailand's eastern region with unique brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, milk chocolate, and cardamom flavor notes.
• Chuncho Cacao (Peru) Native Chuncho cacao from Peru's VRAEM region with warm, spiced, dessert-driven profile featuring milk chocolate mousse, cashew, and orange blossom notes.
• EcoCacao (Ecuador) Regenerative, Fair Trade, and Organic certified cacao from Esmeraldas, Ecuador with brownie edges, jasmine, and honey flavor notes.
• Itenez Cacao (Bolivia) Wild harvested heirloom cacao from Bolivia's Itenez region with 97.3% Beniano Boliviano genetics, featuring buttercream, papaya, and jasmine blossom notes.
• Hacienda Jeanmarie Cacao (Puerto Rico) Specialty cacao from Puerto Rico with soursop, guava, and chocolate mousse flavor notes, sourced from island pioneer farmers with full farm-to-market traceability.
• Kablon Farms Cacao (Philippines) Organic cacao from a 70-hectare biodiversified family estate in the Philippines with brownie batter, pineapple, and macadamia flavor profiles.
• Lachuá Cacao (Guatemala) Conservation-focused organic cacao from indigenous Q'eqchi' Maya communities near the RAMSAR-protected Lake Lachuá in Guatemala.
• Maya Mountain Cacao (Belize) Flagship award-winning organic cacao from Belize with honey, pineapple, and raisin flavor notes.
• Marou Cacao (Vietnam) Ultra-premium cacao from Vietnam sourced from Tien Giang, Ba Ria, and Lam Dong regions with chocolate cake, dried fig, and allspice notes.
• Miskito Cacao (Honduras) Earthy organic cacao produced by indigenous Miskitu and Tawahka communities in Honduras with fudge, butter cookie, and peanut notes.
• Öko Caribe Cacao (Dominican Republic) Award-winning organic cacao from Dominican Republic with s'mores, brown sugar, cherry, and black pepper flavor profile.
• PISA Cacao (Haiti) Women-led central fermentation cacao from Haiti with organic and Fair for Life certifications featuring chocolate mousse, rose, and strawberry notes.
• Roça Sundy Cacao (Príncipe) Ultra-premium organic and Bird Friendly certified cacao from Príncipe island with dark chocolate ganache, macadamia, banana, and vanilla notes.
• Semuliki Forest Cacao (Uganda)

Quantifiable outcome

• 650+ international awards won by chocolate makers working with Uncommon cacao
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Uncommon Cacao CEO Emily Stone was elected to the FCIA volunteer board in 2023 and served through mid-2024. FCIA supports the fine chocolate industry and Uncommon works to steward a prosperous, organized, and collaborative future for the industry.
• MaroucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Vietnamese chocolate makers sourcing from Tien Giang, Ba Ria, and Lam Dong regions. Uncommon Cacao began sourcing from Marou in 2022 for European market. Long-term relationships with standardized fermentation techniques.
• The Climate CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Uncommon Cacao joined The Climate Collaborative as a Collaborative Member since 2020, focusing on reversing climate change through business practices.
• HBD PríncipecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019B Corp focused on sustainable development across São Tomé and Príncipe island. Manages Roça Sundy estate with Bird Friendly and Organic certification. Employs 600+ people and leads island-wide recycling initiatives.
• Unreasonable GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017CEO Emily Stone participated in Unreasonable Goals as one of 16 startups in a mentorship network focusing on UN Sustainability and Development Goals. Connected with community of CEOs to network and mutually support growth.
• Latitude Trade Co. (LTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Vertically integrated certified B Corp in Uganda sourcing Semuliki Forest cacao from 4,664+ certified organic smallholder producers. LTC manages collection points, centralized fermentation, and provides training on farm productivity and finance.
• Thai Cacao Distribution / Ryan BerkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Founded in 2016 by chef and chocolate maker Ryan Berk (Parliament Chocolate). Largest cacao export operation in Thailand with expertise in fermentation and drying practices for Chanthaburi region.
• AshokacoreOthers · 1 January 2013CEO Emily Stone became an Ashoka Fellow in 2013 for her work building Maya Mountain Cacao. The fellowship supported subsequent growth of Uncommon Cacao through the Globalizer Program.
• Hacienda JeanmariecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Puerto Rico cacao pioneer led by Juan Echevarria and Francis Murchison since 2010. Partnered with USDA's Tropical Agricultural Research Station developing 270 cacao clones. Full traceability from farm to market.
• Cacao HunterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExport partner for Sierra Nevada and Tumaco origins in Colombia. Provides feedback on post-harvest protocols and technical assistance to improve quality and marketability.
• Rainforest Exquisite Products S.A. (REPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Manager Volker Lehmann pioneered wild cacao trade in Bolivia starting in 2004. Supports collectors of native wild cacaos including Itenez Beniano cacao (97.3% Beniano Boliviano genetics).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Felchlin: Swiss premium chocolate maker that specializes in single-origin couvertures with strong fine-cacao sourcing. Comparable positioning to Uncommon Cacao in terms of premium/fine-cacao emphasis, though Felchlin sits one step downstream (couverture) rather than at the bean-trade level.
• ECOM Group: Large Latin America-headquartered cocoa merchant and processor with extensive farmgate presence in cocoa-producing geographies. Competes for origin supply at scale and represents the type of well-networked origin intermediary Uncommon Cacao partners with or competes against.
• Cargill: Global commodity trader and food processor with significant cocoa origination and processing operations. Represents the large-trader benchmark against which Uncommon Cacao's specialty and transparency positioning is differentiated.
• Cacao Barry: Specialty/professional brand within Barry Callebaut serving chocolatiers, pâtissiers, and bakeries with premium couvertures. Comparable in terms of serving professional craft chocolate makers, though operating downstream of Uncommon Cacao at the finished-couverture stage rather than at the bean stage.
• Olam Food Ingredients (ofi): Spin-off of Olam Group's cocoa, coffee, and other ingredient businesses; one of the largest global cocoa suppliers and origin processors. Comparable as a global cocoa supply chain operator with deep origin presence, though at vastly larger scale.
• Valrhona: French premium chocolate maker that emphasizes single-origin and fine cacao sourcing, with a brand position very parallel to Uncommon Cacao. Operates as part of Savencia Fromage & Dairy but maintains a specialty positioning attractive to artisan makers — directly mirroring Uncommon's positioning from the buyer side.
• Barry Callebaut: World's largest chocolate manufacturer and a major cocoa processor/trader. Operates at massive scale across the cocoa supply chain and represents the strategic benchmark for what a vertically integrated, well-capitalized competitor looks like as it expands into premium/specialty positioning.

Direct peers

• Chocolate Alchemy: US-based online retailer specializing in cacao beans, cocoa nibs, and craft chocolate-making ingredients sold in small-to-mid quantities to home and professional chocolate makers. Closest analog to Uncommon Cacao in terms of specialty-bean distribution to the bean-to-bar community, though it operates primarily from a single warehouse.

Others

• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker explicitly listed as a Uncommon Cacao customer. Not a peer in the supply sense, but represents the craft/bean-to-bar end of Uncommon's customer base and is often cited as a quality reference brand in the same ecosystem.
• Marou: Vietnamese bean-to-bar chocolate maker and Uncommon Cacao export partner, sourcing cacao from the Tien Giang, Ba Ria, and Lam Dong regions that Uncommon began listing for the European market in 2022. Represents both a customer and an emerging competitor in the fine cacao narrative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uncommoncacao

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Uncommon Cacao