ChoViva
ChoViva, a brand of Planet A Foods GmbH (Germany), is a B2B cocoa-free chocolate-alternative ingredient made from sunflower seeds via a proprietary fermentation and roasting process. It is sold to food manufacturers and embedded in 70+ products across 10+ countries with partners including Nestlé, Mars, and Barry Callebaut.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPlanegg, Germany
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ChoViva does
ChoViva is a brand of Planet A Foods GmbH, a privately held German food-technology company founded in March 2021 by siblings Dr. Sara Marquart (food technologist) and Dr. Maximilian Marquart (engineer and entrepreneur), headquartered in Planegg, Germany. The company has developed what it describes as the world's first commercial cocoa-free chocolate alternative, manufactured from ground sunflower seeds sourced from Eastern Europe using a proprietary fermentation-like and roasting process adapted from ancient beer-brewing technology. The patented recipe requires a minimum 20% ground sunflower seeds combined with plant-based fats and sugar, available in milk, dark, vegan, and white variants, delivering 71.8-85.7% lower CO2 emissions versus conventional chocolate according to a life-cycle assessment methodology developed with sustainability partner inoqo and aligned with ISO 14040/14044 and the EU Product Environmental Footprint framework.
The company operates a B2B ingredient-supply business model, selling ChoViva as a compound ingredient to food manufacturers and brand owners who incorporate it into their own consumer products. Manufacturing is handled at an IFS-certified production site in Pilsen, Czech Republic (operational since April 2023), initially via manufacturing cooperation agreements producing several hundred tons. As of December 2025, ChoViva is featured in more than 70 products across 10+ countries, with named partners spanning enterprise CPG (Mars/Balisto, Nestlé, Barry Callebaut), mid-market confectioners and bakeries (Jokolade, Griesson-de Beukelaer, Treets, Coppenrath, Lambertz, Rübezahl/Sun Rice, Schulte, Seidl, Abtey, Hands off, Kölln, Dr. Quendt, Naturalica/Tante Frida), and major European retailers running private label lines (REWE, ALDI, ALDI SÜD, Kaufland, Penny, BILLA, Rossmann). The company is venture-backed, having raised a $15.4M Series A (January 2024) and $30M Series B (December 2024) for a total of $45.4M from undisclosed investors.
ChoViva firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ChoViva
- Legal name
- Planet A Foods GmbH
- Website
- https://choviva.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- ChoViva, a brand of Planet A Foods GmbH (Germany), is a B2B cocoa-free chocolate-alternative ingredient made from sunflower seeds via a proprietary fermentation and roasting process. It is sold to food manufacturers and embedded in 70+ products across 10+ countries with partners including Nestlé, Mars, and Barry Callebaut.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ChoViva industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient
- NAICS
- Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)
- SIC
- Fats & Oils (2070), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tropical Oils & Fractions (Palm, Palm Kernel, Coconut) (AFAJALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Plant-Based Butter & Spread Alternatives Processing (Margarine-style, Cultured Spreads) (AFAHAJAD), Plant-Based Milk & Creamer Processing (Oat, Soy, Almond, Coconut, Blends) (AFAHAJAA)
Keywords
Where ChoViva is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Planegg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
ChoViva business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- B2B Ingredient Sales: ChoViva generates revenue by selling its cocoa-free chocolate alternative as an ingredient to food manufacturers who incorporate it into their products. The company supplies manufacturers like Nestlé, Jokolade, De Beukelaer, Treets, and others who use ChoViva in their branded snack and confectionery products.
- Commercial Manufacturing Partnership: Manufacturing cooperation agreements producing several hundred tons of ChoViva, with IFS-certified production site in Pilsen, Czech Republic operational since April 2023.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
ChoViva product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ChoViva is a cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient made from ground sunflower seeds sourced from Eastern Europe, developed and supplied by Planet A Foods GmbH. Using a proprietary fermentation-like process adapted from ancient beer brewing technology followed by gentle roasting, the company converts sunflower seeds into a chocolatey compound ingredient (minimum 20% ground sunflower seeds, plant-based fats, sugar, plus milk powder or sunflower seed flour for vegan versions) that food manufacturers use as a drop-in substitute for chocolate in branded snack, bakery, and confectionery products.
Product overview
ChoViva is a cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient made from sunflower seeds, developed by Planet A Foods GmbH. The core product is a B2B ingredient that food manufacturers use as a direct substitute for chocolate in their products. ChoViva is produced using a proprietary fermentation and roasting process adapted from beer brewing technology that unlocks chocolatey aromas from sunflower seeds. The product portfolio includes over 70 consumer products across Europe from partner brands including Nestlé, Mars (Balisto), JOKOLADE, De Beukelaer, Treets, Sun Rice, Coppenrath, Lambertz, Hands off, Schulte Feingebäck, Abtey Chocolaterie, REWE private label, ALDI, Kaufland, Penny, Rossmann, and others. Products range from snack bars and cookies to ice cream toppings and baking mixes, available across multiple European countries including Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Japan. ChoViva delivers 73.6% lower CO2 emissions compared to regular milk chocolate according to inoqo lifecycle assessments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ChoViva Cocoa-Free Chocolate Alternative Proprietary cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient made from ground sunflower seeds (minimum 20%) sourced from Eastern Europe, with plant-based fats, sugar, and either milk powder or sunflower seed flour for vegan versions. Delivered as a compound ingredient to food manufacturers for use in bars, cookies, wafers, ice cream toppings, granola, and baking mixes, achieving 73.6% lower CO2 emissions versus regular milk chocolate. Available in milk, dark, vegan, and white recipe formats.
- Nestlé Choco Crossies Snack Vibes Classic Crunchy snack consisting of cornflakes combined with ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate alternative, made by Nestlé. First permanent Nestlé product featuring ChoViva.
- Nestlé Choco Crossies Snack Vibes Hazelnut Crispy snack consisting of cornflakes and hazelnut pieces mixed with ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate alternative, made by Nestlé.
- Balisto Trail Mix Classic nut and raisin snack including ChoViva pieces, produced by Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats. Available at REWE in Germany.
- Cereola Classic with ChoViva (Vegan) Vegan shortcrust pastry cookies with ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate alternative, baked crispy and light by Griesson - de Beukelaer GmbH & Co. KG.
- Treets Pretzel Bites with ChoViva Crunchy pretzel pieces coated in a smooth ChoViva layer made with sunflower seeds, 100% vegan, produced by Treets GmbH.
- Treets Crunchy Corn with ChoViva Roasted corn kernels in sunflower seed-based ChoViva chocolate alternative with brown sugar coating, available on Deutsche Bahn ICE trains. Produced by Treets GmbH.
- chOATlate Coooky Wholegrain Vanilla Crispy wholegrain cookie with a sustainable ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate alternative and oat notes, produced by Coppenrath Feingebäck GmbH.
- Sun Rice with ChoViva Original Light puffed rice meets cocoa-free ChoViva coating for a classic Sun Rice crunch experience, produced by Rübezahl Schokoladen GmbH.
- Tante Frida Chofruits with ChoViva (Raspberry and Strawberry varieties) Lyophilized crispy raspberries and strawberries dipped in cocoa-free chocolate alternative made with ChoViva, enriched with ChoBiotics live cultures. Produced by Naturalica Foods (Tante Frida brand).
- Hands off Soft Core Bars with ChoViva (Milano Hazelnut, New York Peanut Butter, Amsterdam Speculoos) Soft core bars with hazelnut, peanut butter, or speculoos fillings coated in plant-based chocolate featuring ChoViva. Rainforest Alliance and B-Corp certified, with 54% less CO2 than traditional milk chocolate. Produced by Hands off.
- REWE Beste Wahl and ja! Private Label Products with ChoViva REWE private label ChoViva range including peanut butter cups, hazelnut rolls, mandelhöernchen, waffle bites, nussecken, spritzgebäck, salted caramel hazelnut crunch, mini banana cakes, and mignon wafers. Produced by REWE Group and partner manufacturers.
- Milk Bar with ChoViva and Seasonal ChoViva Products Cocoa-free chocolate bar made from sunflower and grape seeds offering chocolate-like experience through fermentation and roasting, plus seasonal Easter and Christmas products, produced by Abtey Chocolaterie.
Quantifiable outcome
- 73.6% lower CO2 emissions (2.8 vs 10.6 kg CO2e/kg for milk recipes)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ChoViva
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ChoViva technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
ChoViva partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NestlécoreNestlé launched Choco Crossies Snack Vibes featuring ChoViva as its first commercial product with ChoViva in March 2026. This marks ChoViva's commercial debut in a permanent Nestlé product, targeting environmentally conscious Gen Z snackers.
- Barry CallebautcoreCommercial partnership announced November 2025, representing a significant milestone in ChoViva's B2B ingredient business expansion with the world's leading chocolate manufacturer.
- Japanese Retail PartnersminorChoViva expanded outside Europe to Japan in September 2025, available through Japanese retail partners.
- Deutsche BahncoreChoViva products (Treets vegan Crunchy Corn) available as DB Lieblingsgast exclusive offering on ICE trains since June 2024, providing visibility to travelers.
- REWE GroupcoreREWE launched 9 private label products with ChoViva in February 2024, including Beste Wahl and ja! brand products across bakery, snacks, and other categories.
- inoqocoreinoqo provides Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for calculating ChoViva's climate footprint, aligned with ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework. Scientific advisory board, LCA consultants and sustainability researchers ensure high standards.
- JOKOLADE GmbHcoreJokolade uses ChoViva in their confectionery products including Filled Ice Cream Wafer Tips, tablets with caramelized hazelnuts, and snack bars.
- Griesson - de Beukelaer GmbH & Co. KGcoreDe Beukelaer produces Cereola cookie and wafer products with ChoViva, including vegan options available at REWE and Austria.
- Treets GmbHcoreTreets produces various snack products with ChoViva including Pretzel Bites, Buttons, Salted Peanuts, Crunchy Corn, and Crispy variants.
- Rübezahl Schokoladen GmbH (Sun Rice)coreSun Rice brand products with ChoViva including Original, Crunchy Milk + Flakes, and Crunchy White Milk + Flakes variants available in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Hungary.
- Coppenrath Feingebäck GmbHcoreCoppenrath produces chOATlate Coooky cookie line with ChoViva in Vanilla, Caramel, and Oat varieties.
- Henry Lambertz GmbH & Co. KGcoreLambertz produces Knusper Flakes and Erdnuss Berge snack products with ChoViva, available at selected Kaufland stores in Germany.
- Seidl ConfiseriecoreSeidl Confiserie offers premium confectionery products with ChoViva, including DUBAI Bar. First product line available since May 2023.
- Abtey ChocolateriecoreAbtey Chocolaterie produces Milk Bar and seasonal products (Easter eggs, Christmas items) with ChoViva, available in France.
- Hands offcoreHands off produces Milano Hazelnut, New York Peanut Butter, and Amsterdam Speculoos soft core bars with ChoViva fillings, available in the Netherlands. Products are Rainforest Alliance and B-Corp certified.
- Naturalica Foods (Tante Frida)minorNaturalica Foods produces Tante Frida Chofruits line with ChoViva including Raspberry and Strawberry varieties with ChoBiotics live cultures, available in Slovenia.
- Peter Kölln GmbH & Co. KGaAcoreKölln produces Oat Granola Waffle, Oat Granola Berry, and Oat Granola Hazel products with ChoViva, available at Penny and Rewe.
- Dr. Quendt GmbH & Co. KGminorDr. Quendt produces Hafer Q's snack with ChoViva featuring 30% oats and 50% cocoa-free chocolate coating.
- Schulte FeingebäckminorSchulte produces Dominoes ChoViva (White, Dark, Milk varieties) and Kipferl and Mini Speculoos cookies with ChoViva.
- Penny (Rewe Group)corePenny retail stores carry various products with ChoViva including COVO branded waffles and Neapolitaner products.
- BILLAcoreBILLA carries BILLA immer gut Peanut Butter Cups and Banana Split Cups with ChoViva in Austria.
- KauflandcoreKaufland carries K-Classic Waffle Bites with ChoViva and Lambertz products across Germany.
- ALDI and ALDI SÜDcoreALDI carries Dairy Fine Mini Peanut Butter and Salted Caramel filled eggs with ChoViva in Australia. ALDI SÜD carries CHOCEUR Star Rice and Biscotto wafer products with ChoViva in Germany and Switzerland.
- RossmanncoreRossmann carries Das Exquisite Waffle Bites with ChoViva in Germany.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ChoViva competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- QOA: QOA is a German startup producing cocoa-free chocolate via precision fermentation of plant-based ingredients, directly competing with ChoViva in the same cocoa-alternative ingredient category with the same B2B go-to-market targeting food manufacturers.
Broad incumbents
- Barry Callebaut: The world's largest industrial chocolate manufacturer and a ChoViva commercial partner since November 2025. Comparable as the dominant B2B chocolate ingredient supplier whose customer base and supply chain ChoViva aims to access.
- Nestlé: Global CPG giant and ChoViva's largest disclosed brand partner (Choco Crossies Snack Vibes launch March 2026). Comparable as a confectionery incumbent exploring cocoa-free product lines through partnerships with alternative ingredient suppliers.
- Mars: Major chocolate and confectionery manufacturer whose Mars Chocolate Drinks and Treats division launched Balisto Trail Mix with ChoViva. Comparable as a chocolate incumbent adopting cocoa-free alternatives for select product lines.
- Hershey: One of the largest chocolate manufacturers globally. Comparable as a chocolate incumbent with R&D capabilities and sustainability commitments that could either partner with ChoViva or develop competing cocoa-free alternatives.
- Mondelēz International: Global snacks and chocolate conglomerate (Cadbury, Milka, Toblerone). Comparable as a chocolate industry incumbent with active sustainability programs that position it as either a potential ChoViva partner or competitor in cocoa-free innovation.
- Lindt & Sprüngli: Premium Swiss chocolate manufacturer with strong sustainability positioning. Comparable as a premium chocolate incumbent where cocoa-free alternatives could address both supply chain risk and ESG commitments.
Emerging players
- NotCo: Chilean plant-based food technology company using AI-driven ingredient formulation to replicate animal-derived products. Comparable as a B2B/B2C plant-based ingredient innovator applying novel technology to disrupt incumbent food categories.
- Perfect Day: US-based alternative dairy protein producer using precision fermentation. Comparable as a venture-backed food-tech company commercializing novel ingredient platforms via B2B partnerships with major CPG manufacturers.
- C16 Biosciences: New York-based startup producing alternative fats and oils via fermentation to replace palm oil and other commodity oils. Comparable as a fermentation-based alternative lipid platform targeting the same supply volatility and sustainability pain points that ChoViva addresses for cocoa.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ChoViva social profiles
Digital presenceChoViva financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ChoViva leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ChoViva funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ChoViva 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 ChoViva
What does ChoViva do?
ChoViva is a cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient made from ground sunflower seeds sourced from Eastern Europe, developed and supplied by Planet A Foods GmbH. Using a proprietary fermentation-like process adapted from ancient beer brewing technology followed by gentle roasting, the company converts sunflower seeds into a chocolatey compound ingredient (minimum 20% ground sunflower seeds, plant-based fats, sugar, plus milk powder or sunflower seed flour for vegan versions) that food manufacturers use as a drop-in substitute for chocolate in branded snack, bakery, and confectionery products.
Is ChoViva a public or private company?
ChoViva is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ChoViva founded?
ChoViva was founded in 2021.
Where is ChoViva based?
ChoViva is headquartered in Planegg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ChoViva make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. B2B Ingredient Sales are the primary driver. The others are commercial Manufacturing Partnership.
Who are ChoViva's main competitors?
QOA is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Barry Callebaut, Nestlé, Mars, Hershey, Mondelēz International and Lindt & Sprüngli. Emerging players are NotCo, Perfect Day and C16 Biosciences.
Does ChoViva have an API?
No public API is recorded for ChoViva.
What industry is ChoViva in?
ChoViva's product category is Cocoa-free chocolate alternative ingredient. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJALAD, Tropical Oils & Fractions (Palm, Palm Kernel, Coconut), with a secondary code of AFAHAJAD, Plant-Based Butter & Spread Alternatives Processing (Margarine-style, Cultured Spreads). Its NAICS code is 31122 and its SIC code is 2070.