Milène Jardine Chocolatier

What Milène Jardine Chocolatier does

Milène Jardine Chocolatier is a women-owned artisanal chocolate company founded in November 2016 by Milène Jardine, a former Macy's Product Director, and operated as MJ Chocolatier LLC out of a small-batch production facility in Long Island City, Queens. The company handcrafts chocolate truffles and bars using Valrhona chocolate, fresh cream and butter, and real fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices sourced from B-Corp certified partners. Its core product platform is the Live by Love Truffle Collection, five signature flavors each inspired by a different country, complemented by the International Chocolate Bar Library of five vegan 70% dark chocolate bars and rotating limited-edition SKUs (Matcha, Lavender, French Kiss Champagne Cognac, Guava Chili, Hibiscus and Mint). All production is in New York City, and shipments are carbon-offset through a partnership with Pachama.

The business generates revenue through five streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify-powered website, corporate gifting programs with logo customization, virtual and in-person chocolate tasting events (wine, liquor, and cheese pairings, with a NAMI donation component), wholesale distribution through the Faire marketplace, and party essentials including individual favors and bulk platters up to 512 pieces. Pricing spans $4 for a single party favor to $1,460 for a 512-piece platter, with core gift boxes priced at $49 (15 truffles) and $108 (luxury parcel). Distribution combines DTC shipping nationwide, retail placement at Whole Foods, JFK and LaGuardia airports, Soho House, The Ned Nomad, and a network of specialty stores across at least nine U.S. states.

The company is privately held with 1-10 employees and has raised approximately $40,000 in non-dilutive grant funding (Antares REACH in 2024, Queens Tech Innovation Challenge in 2025), supplemented by prior recognition from Goldman Sachs and Start Small Think Big. It has secured the 2024 SBA Metro New York Small Business Award and earned coverage in The New York Times, Forbes, Town & Country, Food Network, and Du Jour, plus endorsements from Michelin-starred chefs Marc Forgione, Dominique Crenn, and Hiroki Odo, and patronage from figures including Sting, Warren Buffett, and Hillary Clinton.

Name

Milène Jardine Chocolatier

Legal name

MJ Chocolatier LLC

Website

https://milenejardine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Milène Jardine Chocolatier is a women-owned artisanal chocolate company founded in 2016 in Long Island City, NY, that handcrafts country-inspired truffles and vegan bars, selling direct-to-consumer online, through corporate gifting programs, tasting events, and wholesale partners nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Chocolates

NAICS

Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate (311352), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Food Gift Shops & Hampers (CRAHAGAN)

Keywords

• Artisanal chocolates
• Chocolate truffles
• Vegan chocolate bars
• Corporate gifting
• Chocolate tasting events

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Online sales through company website (Shopify-powered) offering individual products including truffles, chocolate bars, gift boxes, and party favors shipped directly to consumers. Standard 2-5 day shipping with ice packs in warm weather.
2. Corporate Gifting: B2B sales of curated chocolate collections and custom partnership collections for business gifting, client appreciation, and corporate events. Offers personalization and logo customization.
3. Chocolate Tasting Events: Revenue from hosting virtual and in-person chocolate tasting events featuring pairings with wine, spirits, and cheese for private gatherings, corporate events, and celebrations.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply of chocolates to retail partners including boutiques, specialty food stores, hotels, and airports through Faire marketplace and direct partnerships.
5. Party Essentials and Event Catering: Bulk sales of party favors (individual pieces, 2pc, 4pc options) and platters (64pc to 512pc) for events, weddings, and celebrations with custom options available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Milène Jardine Chocolatier handcrafts small-batch artisanal chocolate truffles and vegan chocolate bars in Long Island City, New York, using Valrhona chocolate and ethically sourced B-Corp certified cacao. The "Live by Love" collection features signature flavors inspired by the founder's travels to more than 35 countries (e.g., Whiskey Sea Salt, Hibiscus & Mint, Matcha, Lavender, French Kiss Champagne Cognac, Guava Chili, Sicilian Salted Lemon, Coconut Lime Leaf, Raw Pistachio, Rosemary, South American Dark). Beyond products, the company runs corporate business gifting with custom logos, virtual and in-person chocolate tasting events with wine/spirits/cheese pairings, and bulk party favors and platters for events.

Product overview

Milène Jardine Chocolatier is a women-owned artisanal chocolate company offering handcrafted truffles and chocolate bars inspired by international travel and flavors from around the world. The core product portfolio consists of the Live by Love Truffle Collection (available in 5pc and 15pc gift boxes) featuring five signature flavors representing different countries, complemented by the International Chocolate Bar Library offering five vegan chocolate bar varieties. The company also provides services including virtual and in-person chocolate tastings (wine, liquor, and cheese pairings), business gifting programs with custom logo options, and party essentials (favors and platters). Seasonal and specialty offerings include Matcha, Lavender, French Kiss Champagne Cognac, Guava Chili, and Hibiscus & Fresh Mint truffles, alongside vegan options like the Chocolate Caramel Bonbon. The Luxury Gift Parcel bundles multiple products together as a comprehensive gift option. All chocolates are made in New York City with ethically sourced ingredients, featuring real fruits, nuts, herbs, and spices without artificial flavors or preservatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• "Live by Love" Chocolate Truffle Gift Box - 15pc Premium 15-piece truffle gift box from the Live by Love collection containing 3 truffles each of 5 internationally-inspired flavors (Harvey Wallbanger, Ginger/Turmeric/Black Pepper, Hibiscus/Mint, Dark Chocolate, Whiskey/Sea Salt), made with Valrhona chocolate, fresh cream and butter for gifting and luxury personal indulgence.
• "Live by Love" Chocolate Truffle Gift Box - 5pc Compact 5-piece version of the Live by Love truffle collection containing one of each of the five signature international flavors, made with Valrhona chocolate, fresh cream and butter for personal gifting or sampling.
• Luxury Chocolate Gift Parcel Comprehensive luxury assortment combining the Live by Love 15pc Truffle Gift Box, the 4pc Whiskey Distillery Collection, and the 5-bar International Chocolate Bar Library, presented in an elegant ribbon-tied gift parcel for premium gifting.
• International Chocolate Bar Library Collection of five vegan chocolate bars featuring international flavors (Sicilian Salted Lemon, Toasted Coconut & Lime Leaf, Raw Pistachio, Rosemary, South American Dark Chocolate), each made with 70% dark chocolate and approximately 140 calories with less than 8g of sugar.
• Sicilian Salted Lemon Chocolate Bar (Vegan) Vegan 70% dark chocolate bar made with organic Sicilian lemons and sea salt, producing salted sour notes; vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and keto-friendly with under 8g of sugar.
• Coconut Lime Leaf Chocolate Bar (Vegan) Vegan 70% dark chocolate bar combining warm coconut with Southeast Asian lime leaf; vegan, gluten-free and soy-free, with approximately 140 calories and under 8g sugar.
• Rosemary Chocolate Bar (Vegan) Vegan 70% dark chocolate bar featuring earthy Mediterranean rosemary balanced with bittersweet dark chocolate; vegan, soy-free, gluten-free and keto-friendly.
• Raw Pistachio Chocolate Bar (Vegan) Vegan 70% dark chocolate bar with rich pistachio flavor inspired by the founder's trips to Paris, with under 8g sugar and approximately 140 calories per bar.
• South American Dark Chocolate Bar (Vegan) Vegan dark chocolate bar made with fruity Dominican beans and toasty Ecuadorian Cacao Arriba, offering balanced dried fruit and sweet spice notes; vegan, gluten-free and keto-friendly.
• Whiskey Sea Salt "Distillery Collection" Truffle Gift Box - 4pc Specialty 4-piece truffle gift box featuring the customer-favorite Serenity truffle made with Bushmills whiskey, maple syrup and sea salt; gluten-free, contains milk.
• "Hibiscus & Fresh Mint" Truffle Collection - 5pc Gift Box 5-piece truffle collection featuring hibiscus and fresh mint flavors inspired by Egypt, with hibiscus powder creating a fuchsia pink ganache; gluten-free, contains milk.
• "Lavender" Truffle Collection - 5pc Gift Box Delicate floral 5-piece truffle collection featuring culinary-grade lavender blended with cream and enrobed in dark chocolate, including 3 Lavender and 2 Classic Dark Chocolate truffles; gluten-free, contains milk.
• "Matcha" Chocolate Truffle Collection - 5pc Gift Box 5-piece premium truffle gift box made with shade-grown, hand-picked and stone-ground matcha from Aichi Prefecture, Japan, including 3 matcha and 2 dark chocolate truffles; gluten-free, contains milk.
• "French Kiss" Fine Champagne Cognac Chocolate Truffles - 5pc 5-piece fine champagne cognac truffle collection blended with orange and cinnamon, topped with a caramel crown and decorated with caramel flakes, enrobed in dark chocolate; contains milk.
• "Guava Chili" Truffle Collection - 5pc Gift Box Sweet and spicy 5-piece truffle gift box featuring fresh guava paste-lined chocolate shells with chili ganache, combining crisp chocolate shell, chewy guava and creamy spicy ganache.
• "Dark Chocolate" Truffle Collection - 5pc Gift Box French-inspired 5-piece dark chocolate truffle collection featuring the Puriste flavor in three forms: 70% ganache center, 55% chocolate shell, and 100% cocoa powder decoration; gluten-free, contains milk.
• Chocolate Caramel Bonbon (Vegan) - 5pc Gift Box 5-piece vegan bonbon collection with gooey caramel made from coconut cream, organic cane sugar and brown rice syrup, wrapped in rich dark chocolate; vegan, soy-free, gluten-free; contains coconut.
• Business Gifting Program Corporate gifting service offering curated chocolate collections, custom partnership collections, and logo customization for client appreciation, corporate events and business relationships; sold via [email protected].
• Chocolate Tastings (Virtual & In-Person) Hosted chocolate tasting experiences with wine, liquor, and cheese pairings, offered as plated sit-down pairings, banquet-style displays, or virtual sessions; virtual tastings include a donation to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
• Party Essentials (Favors & Platters) Event-focused chocolate offerings including individual party favors (1pc from $4, 2pc $8.50, 4pc $18), bulk platters (64pc $192, 128pc $378, 192pc $557, 512pc $1,460), and custom options for weddings, celebrations, turndown amenities and VIP events.
• Chocolate Truffle Making Experience Hands-on chocolate truffle making class priced at $75 per person in which participants learn to craft truffles, used both for direct consumer bookings and as a private/corporate team event offering.
• Milène Jardine Gift Card Digital gift cards in $50, $100, $200 and $500 denominations, delivered via email and redeemable on the Milène Jardine Chocolatier website at checkout.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products featured at Le Cirque, Christie's Auction House, Brunello Cucinelli, and Soho House
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PachamacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for carbon offsetting. Pachama measures and offsets carbon impact of each shipment through forest protection initiatives, contributing to climate change mitigation.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health charity partnership. All virtual tastings include a donation to NAMI, supporting mental health awareness and services.
• B-Corp Certified Cacao PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupply chain partners implementing sustainable practices, adding economic value to local farmers, promoting gender equality, and active members in UN Global Compact.
• Vadi DistilleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NYC spirits distillery partnership for chocolate and spirits pairing collaborations.
• Cheese GrottominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtisan cheese shop partnership for chocolate and cheese pairing events and collaborations.
• Made in QueensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NYC manufacturing and artisan promotion organization supporting Queens-based businesses.
• Made in NYCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC manufacturing and artisan support organization promoting locally-made products.
• Alewife BrewingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal brewery collaboration for chocolate and beer pairing events and collaborative products.
• Talea Beer CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal brewery partnership for chocolate and beer tasting events and collaborations.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform powering the company website, order processing, and payment handling.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Michel Cluizel: French premium chocolate maker producing single-origin chocolates, truffles, and ganaches sold through luxury retail and DTC. Comparable as a premium international chocolate brand emphasizing origin-driven flavors and gift box positioning similar to Milène's narrative.
• Jacques Torres Chocolate: NYC-based artisanal chocolatier with factory, retail shops, and nationwide shipping of premium truffles, bonbons, and gifts. Directly comparable as a premium chocolate maker using European techniques and operating in the same NYC luxury gifting market.
• Mast Brothers Chocolate: Brooklyn-based artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate maker selling premium bars and confections DTC and through specialty retail. Comparable as a small-batch, story-driven premium chocolate brand based in NYC with ethical sourcing emphasis.
• L.A. Burdick Chocolate: New England-based premium chocolatier producing handcrafted truffles, bonbons, and chocolate bars sold through retail stores, hotel channels, and corporate gifting. Comparable on premium positioning, hotel amenity placements, and B2B gifting focus.
• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco-based small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate maker with cafe/retail locations and DTC sales of premium single-origin bars and confections. Comparable as a craft chocolate brand emphasizing transparency, ethical sourcing, and storytelling around origins.
• Compartes Chocolates: Los Angeles-based artisanal chocolatier selling premium truffles, chocolate bars, and curated gift boxes via DTC e-commerce, corporate gifting, and luxury retail. Directly comparable as a small-batch premium chocolate brand competing in the same gift and corporate channel with story-driven product positioning.
• Askinosie Chocolate: Springfield, MO-based bean-to-bar premium chocolate maker focused on ethical sourcing, single-origin bars, and confections sold DTC and via specialty retail. Comparable on ethical-sourcing narrative, small-batch production, and direct-trade supplier relationships.
• Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Chicago-based premium chocolatier known for exotic international flavor profiles, truffles, and bars sold DTC and through luxury retail. Closely comparable on exotic-ingredient narrative, premium gift box pricing, and experiential/chocolate-tasting events.

Broad incumbents

• Neuhaus: Belgian premium chocolate brand with global retail, gift boxes, and luxury assortment positioning. Comparable as a premium boxed chocolate gifting brand competing for the same luxury consumer and corporate gift occasion.
• Hotel Chocolat: UK-based premium chocolate brand with retail stores, hotel-style product, subscription gifting, and corporate offerings. Comparable as a broader premium chocolate gifting platform serving corporate and luxury hospitality channels, though at materially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/milenejardine
• Facebookfacebook.com/MileneJardine
• Instagraminstagram.com/milene.jardine.chocolatier
• Pinterestpinterest.com/0ctymhd46061o6u63dkfsdm5m60se0/_shop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milene-jardine-chocolatier

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Milène Jardine Chocolatier