Woodblock Chocolate

What Woodblock Chocolate does

Woodblock Chocolate is a family-run, bean-to-bar craft chocolate manufactory based in Portland, Oregon, founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Charley and Jessica Wheelock. The company produces single-origin and blended craft chocolate bars, wafer-thin mendiant discs, drinking chocolate, gianduja, chocolate-covered hazelnuts, and specialty confections for artisan food enthusiasts, chocolate connoisseurs, and wholesale retail buyers. Operating from a single Manufactory & Café at 1715 NE 17th Ave, Woodblock sources cacao directly from named origin farms: Akesson's Organic Estate (Madagascar, Sambirano Valley), Ucayali River Cacao (Peru), Camino Verde (Ecuador, Balao), and Kokoa Kamili (Tanzania, Kilombero Valley).

The company's core technology centers on full in-house bean-to-bar production using Royal drum roasters (circa 1910, manufactured in upstate New York), crack and winnow machines, melangeur for conching, and tempering machines. The complete process — sourcing, roasting (in 30 lb batches), cracking and winnowing (using air pressure and gravity to separate hull from nib), refining and conching, aging, tempering, and hand-wrapping — is visible to retail customers from the Manufactory shop floor. Its principal technical differentiation is the trademarked 'Enfleurage Resting Chocolate' process, in which cocoa butter absorbs ambient fragrance from adjacent aromatics (coffee, tea, herbs) to create flavor profiles not achievable through standard infusion methods. Core single-origin bars are priced at $11–$12 each, with 10-bar variety packs at $49 and 30-bar cases at $135.

Woodblock generates revenue through three primary streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via woodblockchocolate.com with free domestic shipping on orders over $100; on-site retail at the Manufactory & Café (retail Wed–Sun 9:00am–3:00pm; café Mon–Fri 8:00am–6:00pm, weekends 9:00am–6:00pm) selling products plus coffee drinks, tea, drinking chocolate, and baked goods; and B2B wholesale distribution managed through a dedicated email channel ([email protected]). The company operates with no disclosed external funding, maintaining founder family ownership since 2010, and has accumulated earned media from The New York Times '36 Hours in Portland' (2015), Martha Stewart's '20 Chocolate Bars Perfect for Gifting!' (2015), kitchn, and analogPlanet. Strategic collaborations with Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Smith Tea, Coava Coffee Roasters, Bitterman Salt Co, La Mancha Ranch (Oregon hazelnuts), and Burnside Brewing Company anchor both product development and brand positioning within the Portland craft food cluster.

Name

Woodblock Chocolate

Legal name

Woodblock Chocolate

Website

https://woodblockchocolate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Woodblock Chocolate is a family-run, bean-to-bar craft chocolate manufactory in Portland, Oregon, producing single-origin and blended chocolate bars, discs, and specialty treats for artisan food enthusiasts via direct-to-consumer e-commerce, wholesale, and a physical Manufactory & Café.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Craft Chocolate

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Bean-to-bar chocolate
• Craft chocolate bars
• Single-origin chocolate
• Chocolate mendiants
• Artisan chocolate manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales (Retail & E-commerce): The company generates revenue through direct sales of craft chocolate bars, discs, drinking chocolate, gianduja, chocolate-covered hazelnuts, and specialty products via its e-commerce website and physical Manufactory & Café. Individual items range from $11 to $22, with bundle packs (10-bar and 30-bar selections) priced at $49 and $135 respectively. Free domestic shipping is offered on orders over $100.
2. Wholesale Distribution: The company sells to wholesale buyers through a dedicated wholesale email contact ([email protected]), indicating a B2B revenue stream alongside retail operations.
3. Specialty Fundraising Product: The Trinidad Fundare Bar was sold as a limited fundraising product at $100 per 100g bar, with 100% of proceeds going to the Cocoa Research Centre in Trinidad. This represents a unique non-recurring revenue stream tied to a charitable collaboration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Woodblock Chocolate is a family-run, bean-to-bar craft chocolate manufactory that produces single-origin and blended dark, milk, and specialty chocolate bars, wafer-thin chocolate discs (mendiants), drinking chocolate, gianduja, and chocolate-covered hazelnuts in its Portland, Oregon facility. Products are sold through the company's own e-commerce website, its on-site Manufactory & Café retail shop, and wholesale channels to specialty retailers. The portfolio centers on transparent-origin cacao sourced from Madagascar, Peru, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Trinidad, with a trademarked Enfleurage Resting Chocolate line as a signature specialty.

Product overview

Woodblock Chocolate is a family-run, bean-to-bar craft chocolate manufactory in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Charley and Jessica Wheelock, the company produces single-origin and blended chocolate bars, chocolate discs (mendiants), drinking chocolate, gianduja, and chocolate-covered treats. The product portfolio centers on single-origin bars from Madagascar, Peru, Ecuador, and Tanzania, with house blends featuring a Signature Double Origin. Specialty products include Enfleurage Resting Chocolate (infused via aromatic proximity), Coffee Milk and Malted Milk discs, and collaborations like Bitterman Salt Co's chocolate salt. The company operates from 1715 NE 17th Ave, Portland, with a retail shop open Wed-Sun 9:00-3:00.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Madagascar, Sambirano 70% Chocolate Bar Single-origin 70% dark chocolate bar made from cacao grown in the Sambirano Valley, Madagascar. Known for bright, acidic flavors with dried fruit notes of raisin and dried cherry. Targeted at craft chocolate consumers seeking terroir-driven single-origin bars.
• Peru, Cajamarca 70% Chocolate Bar Single-origin 70% dark chocolate bar made from cacao grown in a secluded canyon in Cajamarca, Peru. Features toasty caramel notes with silky texture and soft tannins. The Cajamarca beans were the first shipped to the US for Woodblock's production.
• Peru, Ucayali River 70% Chocolate Bar Single-origin 70% dark chocolate bar made from cacao grown near Pucallpa, Peru. Presents rich caramel flavor with low astringency, sourced through a partnership with USAID and Alianza Peru that gave local farmers an alternate market to cocaine.
• Ecuador, Balao 70% Chocolate Bar Single-origin 70% dark chocolate bar from Camino Verde farm in Balao, Ecuador. Features dark aubergine color with concentrated earthy chocolate pudding flavors and notes of cinnamon, leveraging Vicente Norero's wine-inspired fermentation techniques.
• Tanzania, Kokoa Kamili Chocolate Bar Single-origin chocolate bar made from cacao from the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, via the Kokoa Kamili fermentery. Features tasting notes of sweet raspberry and rose with African acidity; cherries, coffee, and lemon are also noted.
• 100% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar Pure 100% cacao dark chocolate bar with no added sugar, sold at $12.00. Took 15 years to develop a version the company loved enough to put their name on. Targeted at purist craft chocolate consumers seeking the most intense expression of single-origin cacao.
• 70% Dark Chocolate Discs (Double Origin House Blend) Wafer-thin 70% Double Origin dark chocolate discs sold in 8oz sacks containing about 70 pieces at $20.00 per sack. Two-ingredient chocolate made from beans and sugar, balanced as a house blend that changes slightly with each batch.
• Salt & Nib Dark Chocolate Discs Wafer-thin 70% Double Origin dark chocolate discs sprinkled with Madagascar cocoa nibs and Guatemalan sea salt, sold in 8oz sacks (~70 pieces) at $22.00. Marketed as a 'geoagricultural masterclass' of single-origin ingredients.
• Coffee Milk Chocolate Discs Milk chocolate discs made with Stumptown Coffee Hair Bender beans and Peruvian cacao ground together, sold in 8oz sacks (~70 pieces) at $20.00. Branded 'Breakfast Chocolate' for integrated coffee-chocolate flavor.
• Malted Milk Chocolate Discs Milk chocolate discs with integrated malted barley for a wheaty sweetness and silky texture, sold in 8oz sacks (~70 pieces) at $20.00. Made with 45% Peruvian cacao.
• 10 Assorted 70% Dark Chocolate Bars Assorted pack of 10 bars (25g / 0.88oz each) at $49.00, including two each of Madagascar, Peru, Ecuador, and Tanzania single-origin bars, plus one salted 70% dark blend and one 70% dark blended bar. Targeted at craft chocolate enthusiasts and gifting.
• 10 Assorted Dark and Milk Chocolate Bars Mixed pack of 10 dark and milk chocolate bars at $49.00, featured in Martha Stewart's curated 2015 list of '20 Chocolate Bars Perfect for Gifting!'. Targeted at premium gifting and craft chocolate exploration.
• 10 Assorted Milk Chocolate Bars Assorted pack of 10 milk chocolate bars at $49.00, featuring Milk, Dark Milk, Coffee Milk, and Malted Milk varieties. Targeted at craft milk chocolate enthusiasts and gifting.
• 30-Bar Selection Case of 30 chocolate bars drawn from Woodblock's current bar offerings, priced at $135.00. Targeted at heavy craft chocolate consumers, gift buyers, and small-event hosts.
• Variety Pack of Chocolate Discs Variety pack including one 8oz bag each of 70% Dark, Salt & Nib Dark, Coffee Milk, and Malted Milk discs, priced at $70.00. Targeted at first-time buyers and gift purchasers seeking a guided sampling of mendiants.
• Dark Chocolate Hazelnut and Salt Large Bar 70% dark chocolate bar topped with whole Oregon hazelnuts from La Mancha Ranch in Sweet Home, OR and sparkly salt crystals, sold at $11.00. Targeted at consumers seeking premium chocolate with regionally sourced nuts.
• Chocolate Covered Hazelnuts Hazelnuts from La Mancha Ranch in Sweet Home, OR coated in chocolate with salt and cocoa nib dusting, sold at $17.00. Targeted at premium nut-and-chocolate consumers seeking locally sourced Oregon hazelnuts.
• Gianduja Hazelnut chocolate treat inspired by Torino, Italy, made with fresh-harvest hazelnuts from La Mancha Ranch, 70% dark chocolate and salt, sold at $14.00. Targeted at premium confectionery consumers.
• Drinking Chocolate 70% chocolate ground into small particles that melt elegantly into liquids, sold at $22.00. Suggested for use with coconut water, nut milk, oat milk, soy milk, cow milk, or coffee. Targeted at home consumers of premium drinking chocolate.
• Roasties Roasted Madagascar cocoa beans sold at $16.00. Can be eaten as-is, broken into nibs for cooking, or used as a topping. Targeted at home cooks and craft ingredient buyers.
• SAVORIES: Salt Brined, Roasted, Chocolate Covered Cocoa Beans Salt-brined cocoa beans roasted and coated in thin dark chocolate, sold at $18.00. Vegan. Targeted at savory-snack consumers within the craft chocolate audience.
• Milk Chocolate Clown Noses Milk chocolate mini-blobs topped with crunchy milk chocolate 'noses', approximately 34 pieces per 3oz bag, sold at $11.00. Described as tasting like Crunch Berries. Targeted at confectionery consumers seeking playful premium treats.
• Enfleurage Resting Chocolate - Smith Tea Big Hibiscus & 70% Madagascar 70% Madagascar chocolate mendiant disks rested alongside Smith Tea Big Hibiscus so cocoa butter absorbs hibiscus fragrance through the proprietary Enfleurage process, sold at $18.00. Targeted at premium consumers seeking novel flavor experiences.
• Enfleurage Resting Chocolate - Smith Tea Masala Chai & 70% Ecuador 70% Ecuadorian chocolate mendiant disks paired with Smith Tea Masala Chai; cocoa butter absorbs spiced chai fragrance through the Enfleurage process, sold at $18.00. Targeted at premium consumers seeking novel flavor pairings.
• Enfleurage Resting Chocolate - Smith Tea Peppermint & 70% Double Origin Double Origin chocolate mendiant disks rested with Smith Tea Peppermint herbs; cocoa butter absorbs peppermint fragrance through the Enfleurage process, sold at $18.00. Targeted at premium consumers seeking novel flavor pairings.
• Enfleurage Resting Chocolate - Stumptown Coffee & 70% Double Origin Signature Double Origin chocolate rested alongside Stumptown Coffee so cocoa butter absorbs coffee fragrance through the proprietary Enfleurage process, sold at $18.00. Targeted at premium coffee-and-chocolate consumers.
• Bitterman Salt Co's Woodblock Chocolate Salt Collaboration product with Bitterman Salt Co: salt with chocolate added, sold at $12.00. Intended for use on ice cream, pie, cookies, whipped cream, pork, nuts, or fruit. Targeted at home cooks and food enthusiasts.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cocoa Research Centre (CRC), University of The West Indies, TrinidadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2015Woodblock Chocolate collaborated with the Cocoa Research Centre in Trinidad on the Trinidad Fundare Bar — a fundraising project for the maintenance of the International Cocoa Gene Bank, Trinidad (ICG,T). 100% of proceeds went to the CRC. Woodblock's Duncan Ellinwood traveled to Trinidad to assist with flavor lab processing. The project was conceived in 2011 and resulted in 300 limited-edition bars sold at $100 each, with hand-signed certificates from the CRC Director.
• Burnside Brewing CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2015Woodblock Chocolate collaborated with Burnside Brewing Company to create a chocolate stout — the 'bean to beer' process. Woodblock poured 80lbs of freshly conched chocolate from their melangeur into buckets and delivered it to Burnside Brewing to be dumped directly into the boil. This was described as a first-of-its-kind collaboration, combining craft chocolate making with craft brewing.
• Bitterman Salt CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with salt expert Mark Bitterman of Bitterman Salt Co to create 'Woodblock Chocolate Salt' — a salt product with chocolate added. The idea emerged from discussions about how chocolate and salt could be better combined, with both parties simultaneously suggesting adding their respective products to the other's.
• La Mancha Ranch and Orchard (Sweet Home, Oregon)coreOthersLa Mancha Ranch and Orchard in Sweet Home, OR supplies hazelnuts to Woodblock Chocolate. Unlike typical hazelnut processors who pay farmers by the ton, La Mancha processes its own nuts and grows a flavor-focused hazelnut strain. Woodblock uses these hazelnuts for gianduja, chocolate-covered hazelnuts, and the Dark Chocolate Hazelnut and Salt bar.
• Kokoa Kamili (Tanzania)coreOthersKokoa Kamili is a cacao fermentery in Tanzania's Kilombero Valley founded by Brian LoBue and Simran Bindra. They work with nearly 3,000 smallholder farmers, pay premium prices above market rate for wet cocoa, and conduct their own fermentation and drying. Kokoa Kamili has distributed over 140,000 cocoa seedlings to farmers. Woodblock sources cacao from Kokoa Kamili for its Tanzania single-origin bar, described as having tasting notes of cherry, coffee, and lemon.
• Akesson's Organic Estate (Madagascar)coreOthersAkesson's Organic Estate in the Sambirano Valley grows cocoa (primarily Trinitario, with limited Criollo) alongside other tropical crops. The estate produces 300 tons of cocoa per year and is credited with setting the bar for fine cacao growers globally. Woodblock sources cacao from Akesson's for its Madagascar single-origin bar, described as acidic and bright with raisin and dried cherry notes.
• Vicente Norero / Camino Verde (Balao, Ecuador)coreOthersVicente Norero runs Camino Verde farm in Balao, Ecuador, and has developed innovative wine-inspired fermentation techniques for cacao that are considered cutting-edge in source-side processing. His cacao represents the most forward-thinking growers in Ecuador. Woodblock sources cacao from Camino Verde for its Ecuador single-origin bar, described as having an aubergine hue with concentrated, low-acid, high-flavor characteristics and notes of cinnamon.
• Ucayali River Cacao (Peru)coreOthersUcayali River Cacao in Peru partnered with USAID and Alianza Peru to give local farmers access to an alternate market to cocaine. Woodblock sources cacao from this region for its Peru Ucayali River bar, described as having rich caramel flavor with low astringency.
• Coava Coffee Roasters (Portland, Oregon)minorOthersCoava Coffee Roasters in Portland created the 'Wheelock Blend' — a custom multi-processed coffee blend (Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia) developed specifically to pair with Woodblock Chocolate. The blend is rich, balanced, and caramel-driven for drip coffee that goes with chocolate or stands alone.
• Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Portland, Oregon)minorOthersStumptown Coffee Roasters supplies Hair Bender coffee beans for Woodblock's Coffee Milk Chocolate Discs (branded as 'Breakfast Chocolate'). The coffee beans are ground together with Peruvian cacao in the chocolate mill, creating a uniquely integrated coffee-chocolate product.
• Smith Tea (Portland, Oregon)minorOthersSmith Tea supplies herbs and teas for Woodblock's Enfleurage Resting Chocolate line. Available pairings include Big Hibiscus with 70% Madagascar, Peppermint with 70% Double Origin, and Masala Chai with 70% Ecuador, all produced using the enfleurage process.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker with a flagship factory, café, and direct-trade single-origin sourcing model. Highly comparable to Woodblock in manufacturing philosophy, café-retail integration, and premium single-origin positioning.
• Mast Brothers Chocolate: Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker known for direct trade sourcing and artisanal single-origin bars. Comparable to Woodblock in craft production methods, premium positioning, and DTC-led distribution.
• Taza Chocolate: Somerville, MA-based stone-ground bean-to-bar maker with direct trade relationships and a factory-tour retail experience. Comparable to Woodblock in bean-to-bar manufacturing, transparency emphasis, and factory-storefront hybrid model.
• Askinosie Chocolate: Springfield, MO-based single-origin bean-to-bar maker with direct farmer relationships and a chocolate factory experience. Comparable to Woodblock in direct-trade single-origin sourcing narrative and small-batch craft positioning.
• Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Chicago-based premium chocolate brand focused on exotic ingredient pairings and experiential flavors. Comparable to Woodblock in premium pricing, ingredient-driven innovation (e.g., Enfleurage), and gift-oriented positioning.
• Compartés Chocolatier: Los Angeles-based artisan chocolatier producing handcrafted bars and confections with novel flavor profiles. Comparable to Woodblock in premium craft positioning, novel flavor experimentation, and DTC + flagship retail model.

Regional players

• Fresco Chocolate: Pacific Northwest (Lynden, WA) bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker with direct trade sourcing. Comparable to Woodblock as a regional PNW craft chocolate peer operating in similar geographic territory and craft positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Endangered Species Chocolate: Indiana-based broader-market premium chocolate bar brand with ethical sourcing messaging. Comparable to Woodblock as a larger, more widely distributed craft-leaning chocolate brand competing for premium shelf space and gifting occasions.
• Lindt & Sprüngli: Global premium chocolate incumbent with a broad craft/excellence line (Lindt Excellence). Comparable to Woodblock as a competing premium dark chocolate supplier in retail and gifting channels, though at vastly larger scale and broader distribution.

Emerging players

• Hu Kitchen: New York-based premium chocolate and paleo-snack brand that has scaled craft chocolate into mainstream retail. Comparable to Woodblock as an emerging premium chocolate brand pursuing the same craft-to-mainstream trajectory, though with broader product breadth and larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/woodblockchocolate
• Xx.com/woodblockchoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/woodblock-chocolate-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Woodblock Chocolate