What Raaka Chocolate does

Raaka Chocolate is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer founded in 2010 by co-founders Ryan and Nate. The company produces unroasted (raw) single-origin dark chocolate from transparently traded cacao sourced from three named cooperatives in Uganda, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic, and pays premium prices above Fair Trade (e.g., $5.20/kg vs. $2.71/kg Fair Trade average for Dominican Republic cacao). Raaka's production is vertically integrated in a single Red Hook facility (64 Seabring St, expanded in 2022), controlling the process from fermentation through tempering and wrapping without roasting, which preserves the naturally fruity flavor profile of cacao typically lost in conventional chocolate making.

The product portfolio spans classic dark chocolate bars ($7-$8), 100% cacao bars, mini bars, dipped waffle cones, baking chocolate, hot chocolate, and a differentiated functional chocolate line (Day Break, Mellow Moon, Cocoa Magic) infused with adaptogens and 530mg of functional mushrooms per bar. The company's revenue model is diversified across direct-to-consumer e-commerce (raakachocolate.com via Shopify), the First Nibs monthly subscription at $27.95/month, wholesale channels via Faire and Airgoods, an Amazon storefront, corporate gifting with custom branding, and in-person classes at the Brooklyn factory ($65-$115/person). All products are certified organic, vegan, kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free, targeting health-conscious chocolate enthusiasts and premium food service buyers rather than mass-market consumers.

The company operates with 11-50 employees and has raised only $355,000 in disclosed external funding (2015), implying a self-funded, capital-efficient growth model. Brand credibility is anchored by a 2013 Good Food Award for Bourbon Cask Aged chocolate and editorial coverage in New York Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and Food & Wine. Distribution is primarily domestic (USA) with limited international corporate gifting for non-meltable SKUs, and the company has no disclosed subsidiaries, M&A activity, or leadership changes since founding.

Name

Raaka Chocolate

Legal name

Raaka chocolate ltd.

Website

https://raakachocolate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Raaka Chocolate is a Brooklyn-based, founder-owned bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded in 2010 that produces unroasted, organic, vegan dark chocolate from transparently traded single-origin cacao, selling through DTC e-commerce, wholesale, Amazon, subscription, and a factory store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Dark Chocolate

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing (311821)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Confectionery Manufacturing (Chocolate, Candy, Gum) (AFAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA), Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM)

Keywords

• Bean-to-bar chocolate
• Organic dark chocolate
• Chocolate subscription
• Craft chocolate maker
• Functional chocolate bars

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Raaka sells chocolate bars, mini bars, waffle cones, baking chocolate, and gift bundles directly to consumers through its Shopify e-commerce storefront at raakachocolate.com. Individual bars range $7-$18, mini bags $14-$95, and bundles $19-$76.
2. Chocolate Subscriptions (First Nibs): Monthly micro-batch chocolate subscription delivering two innovative single-origin bars and one Raaka classic directly to subscribers' doorsteps. Three-bar plan at $27.95/month and two-bar plan available. Subscriptions include free shipping and a 10% discount. First Nibs subscribers receive exclusive bars not available to general public.
3. Wholesale & Food Service: Wholesale supply of retail chocolate to stores, cafes, restaurants, and bakeries via Faire and Airgoods platforms, as well as direct wholesale accounts. Also includes bulk couverture (pastilles, ground chocolate, hot chocolate mixes) with a 10lb minimum for food service customers.
4. Corporate Gifting: Customizable corporate gift orders ranging from single bars to multi-bar gift boxes, with options for custom gift notes and logo stickers. Raaka drop-ships to individual addresses or single locations for corporate events, holidays, and client appreciation.
5. Classes & Experiences: Chocolate-making classes, truffle making, wine and chocolate pairings, coffee cupping, and ice cream making at the Brooklyn factory. Classes range $65-$115 per person. Also available for private corporate and event bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Raaka Chocolate is a Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker that manufactures unroasted, single-origin dark chocolate from traceable, transparently traded cacao beans. Its product portfolio includes chocolate bars, mini bars, dipped waffle cones, hot chocolate, baking chocolate, gift bundles, monthly First Nibs subscriptions, and functional chocolate bars infused with adaptogens and mushrooms. The company also operates a Brooklyn factory store, offers wholesale supply to retailers and food service, and runs in-person chocolate-making classes.

Product overview

Raaka Chocolate is a Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker offering unroasted, organic, vegan, and transparently traded dark chocolate products. The product portfolio centers on chocolate bars in various formats (full-size bars, mini bars, waffle cones), functional chocolate bars infused with adaptogens and functional mushrooms, hot chocolate and baking products, and subscription services. Key product lines include: Classic Dark Chocolate Bars (Pink Sea Salt, Bourbon Cask Aged, Maple & Nibs, 100% Cacao), Functional Dark Chocolate (Day Break, Mellow Moon, Cocoa Magic), Waffle Cone Bars (dipped in various chocolate flavors), Mini Bars (snackable portions in multiple flavors), Hot Chocolate & Baking products, and the First Nibs monthly subscription service delivering limited-batch micro-batches. The company also offers experiential services including chocolate making classes and corporate gifting programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini Doses Box of 30 Box of 30 bean-to-bite-sized mini bars in five flavors (Oat Milk, Coconut Milk, Pink Sea Salt, 60% cacao, and 100% Cacao) for pantry-ready snacking. Sold to consumers seeking variety packs of small-portion dark chocolate.
• 100% Cacao Bar Pure unsweetened dark chocolate bar made with unroasted cacao beans and cacao butter from Kokoa Kamili, Tanzania; contains no added sugar. Priced at $8.
• Dipped Waffle Cone Variety Box (10-Pack) Mixed case of 10 gluten-free waffle cone cookies dipped in vegan dark or matcha white chocolate (4 Vanilla, 3 Chocolate, 3 Matcha). Priced at $42.
• First Nibs Three Bar Monthly Subscription Monthly micro-batch chocolate subscription delivering three bars (two innovative limited-batch flavors and one Raaka classic) directly to subscribers. $27.95/month with free shipping and 10% subscribe-and-save discount.
• Waffle Crunch Minis Bag of 40 Crispy crunchy mini bars made from upcycled imperfect gluten-free waffle cone pieces folded into single-origin Ugandan dark chocolate. Priced at $40 for a bag of 40.
• Bourbon Cask Aged 82% cacao dark chocolate aged for two months in bourbon casks, creating oaky, smooth flavor with hints of cherry cordial. 2013 Good Food Award Winner. Priced at $8.
• Functional Dark Chocolate Mixed Box of 10 Mixed box containing five Day Break (energizing blend with cordyceps, chaga, and adaptogens) and five Mellow Moon (soothing blend with lion's mane, reishi, and lavender) bars, each with 530mg functional mushrooms. $40 one-time or $36 with subscription.
• Double Dark Hot Chocolate Hot chocolate mix made with double dark chocolate for rich, intense cocoa flavor; part of the baking and hot chocolate lineup. Priced at $15.
• Maple & Nibs Dark chocolate bar sweetened with maple sugar and combined with cacao nibs.
• Pink Sea Salt Fruity, complex salted dark chocolate made with Zorzal Cacao from Dominican Republic and Peruvian pink sea salt. Priced at $7.
• Best Sellers Bundle Three-bar bundle featuring Bourbon Cask Aged, Pink Sea Salt, and Oat Milk - Raaka's top three best-selling flavors. Priced at $19.
• Pink Sea Salt Minis Box of 100 Box of 100 mini Pink Sea Salt chocolate bars for individual snackable portions or bulk/gifting needs. Priced from $95.
• Matcha Dipped Waffle Cone Gluten-free waffle cone cookie dipped in matcha white chocolate made with organic matcha powder. Sold individually and as part of the variety box.
• Cocoa Magic Functional dark chocolate infused with adaptogenic herbs and functional mushrooms for wellness benefits.
• Botanical Collection Box Limited batch collection featuring Rose Saffron, Strawberry Verbena, and Olive Oil Apricot bars.
• Chocolate Library Gift Box Curated gift box featuring 8 assorted Raaka chocolate bars for gifting occasions. Priced at $65.
• Vegan Milk Chocolate Bundle Bundle of oat milk and coconut milk chocolate bars offering a dairy-free milk chocolate experience.
• Customizable 3 Bar Box Build-your-own gift box with three selected Raaka chocolate bars; also available as a 12-bar Limited Batch configuration at $76.
• Gift Subscriptions (3/6/12 months) Prepaid chocolate subscriptions available in 3-month ($84), 6-month ($168), and 12-month ($299) durations for gifting to other individuals.
• Day Break Functional Chocolate Energizing dark chocolate infused with cordyceps, chaga, yerba mate, moringa, schisandra, and rhodiola for daytime focus and energy. 530mg functional mushrooms per bar.
• Mellow Moon Functional Chocolate Calming dark chocolate with lion's mane, reishi, mint, holy basil, lemon balm, lavender, and ashwagandha for evening relaxation. 530mg functional mushrooms per bar.
• Chocolate Making Classes In-person chocolate making classes at the Brooklyn factory including bean-to-bar experience ($115/person), truffle making ($90/person), wine and chocolate pairing ($70/person), tea and chocolate pairing ($65/person), coffee cupping and chocolate ($65/person), and ice cream making ($100/person). Available for private corporate and event bookings.
• Date-Sweetened 9-Piece Truffle Box Truffles sweetened with dates instead of refined sugar. Priced at $28.
• Seed Butter Praline Cubes Limited batch seed butter praline chocolate cubes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% vegan, organic, kosher, non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free products across the entire product line
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Plant PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025Raaka and Plant People launched a limited-edition holiday collaboration 'Festive Functionals' in October 2025, releasing 12 mini bars in two flavors: 'Midnight Saffron' and 'Turmeric Gingerbread.' The collaboration combined Plant People's adaptogenic ingredients with Raaka's unroasted cacao, positioning the products as wellness-focused treats for gifting. Both companies aligned on shared values of sustainability, transparency, and plant-based innovation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mast Chocolate (formerly Mast Brothers): Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded around the same period, with comparable premium positioning, single-origin sourcing, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, factory tours, and a similar artisanal retail/wholesale split. Mast is among the closest direct comparables in scale, geography, and category.
• Taza Chocolate: Somerville, MA-based bean-to-bar stone-ground chocolate maker with direct-trade sourcing, organic certifications, and a similar premium DTC-plus-wholesale model. Comparable scale and product breadth, with overlapping certifications and price points.
• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco-based bean-to-bar single-origin chocolate maker with a factory, retail stores, classes, and a comparable DTC-plus-experiential business model. Direct comparable on production method, single-origin sourcing transparency, and premium price positioning.
• Askinosie Chocolate: Springfield, MO-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker with a single-origin direct-trade sourcing model similar to Raaka's Transparent Trade program, plus factory tours and wholesale distribution. Comparable scale and ethical-sourcing positioning.
• Ritual Chocolate: Park City, UT-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker with a subscription service, single-origin sourcing, and premium direct-to-consumer positioning. Comparable on production method, subscription revenue mechanic, and premium DTC orientation.

Emerging players

• Letterpress Chocolate: Los Angeles-based small-batch bean-to-bar maker with a single-origin, dairy-free, low-sugar product positioning. Smaller scale and a more limited product range, but operates in the same premium DTC-plus-specialty wholesale space.
• Hu Kitchen: Premium 'clean-label' chocolate and confectionery brand with Paleo-friendly, no-refined-sugar positioning and broader mainstream retail distribution. Adjacent positioning in the clean-ingredient premium chocolate space Raaka also occupies.
• ChocoVivo: Los Angeles-based bean-to-bar maker with a focus on stone-ground, minimally processed chocolate and educational factory tours. Smaller scale but directly comparable on bean-to-bar technique and experiential retail model.

Broad incumbents

• Tony's Chocolonely: Larger ethical-chocolate brand operating across the US and Europe with a slavery-free sourcing mission. Broader portfolio and distribution, but overlaps with Raaka on the consumer-facing ethical-sourcing narrative and premium positioning.
• Endangered Species Chocolate: Established ethical chocolate brand with Fair Trade certification, conservation-focused branding, and broad mainstream retail distribution. Larger scale and broader category footprint; overlaps on ethical chocolate positioning though not bean-to-bar.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/raakachocolate
• Xx.com/raakachocolate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/raaka-chocolate

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Raaka Chocolate