Chocolatier Australia
Chocolatier Australia is a family-owned premium chocolate manufacturer founded in 1985 in Melbourne, producing truffles, pralines, gifts, and licensed chocolates for hospitality, gift hamper companies, retailers, and B2B contract manufacturing clients across Australia. Acquired by Koko Black in April 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersHeidelberg West, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Chocolatier Australia does
Chocolatier Australia is a family-owned premium chocolate manufacturer founded in 1985 by brothers David and John Grisold in Diamond Creek, Victoria, and now headquartered in a 4,000 square-metre purpose-built facility in Heidelberg West, Melbourne. The company manufactures handcrafted European-style pralines, truffles, liqueur chocolates, chocolate hearts, bars, seasonal Easter products, and licensed chocolate products for iconic Australian and international brands including Golden Gaytime and Bubble O'Bill (Unilever), Bundaberg Rum, and Gordon's Pink Gin (Diageo). Its manufacturing capability is anchored by frozen shell manufacturing technology described as the only installation of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, combined with a climate-controlled warehouse for year-round production and storage, and is Rainforest Alliance certified for sustainable cocoa sourcing.
The business operates a wholesale-first distribution model, with the factory selling exclusively to trade accounts, supported by 10+ state-level distributors, a national stockist network spanning every Australian state and territory, Myer department store seasonal presence, and a dedicated retail sub-brand Chocilo Melbourne (operated by Joanne and Bruce Grisold in Ivanhoe) that handles direct-to-consumer sales online and via café/shop. The customer base spans hospitality (hotels, restaurants, airlines), gift and hamper companies (notably long-term partners Edible Blooms for 15-17 years and Interflora Australia), retail consumers, and B2B clients served through a contract manufacturing service for custom branded chocolate production. In April 2025, Chocolatier Australia was acquired by fellow premium Australian chocolatier Koko Black as part of an expansion strategy that projects combined revenue to triple by 2029 via increased local production capacity and retail expansion.
Chocolatier Australia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chocolatier Australia
- Legal name
- Chocolatier Australia
- Website
- https://chocolatier.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Chocolatier Australia is a family-owned premium chocolate manufacturer founded in 1985 in Melbourne, producing truffles, pralines, gifts, and licensed chocolates for hospitality, gift hamper companies, retailers, and B2B contract manufacturing clients across Australia. Acquired by Koko Black in April 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chocolatier Australia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium Chocolate Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate (311352), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Confectionery Manufacturing (Chocolate, Candy, Gum) (AFAKAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA), Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery (CRAHAGAH), Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM)
Keywords
Where Chocolatier Australia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Heidelberg West
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chocolatier Australia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Wholesale Chocolate Sales: Primary revenue stream through bulk wholesale orders of chocolates to retailers, stockists, and businesses across Australia. Factory sells exclusively wholesale.
- Retail Sales - Chocilo Melbourne: Retail face of the business through Chocilo Melbourne shop and online store handling all Chocolatier Australia's online retail sales.
- Contract Manufacturing: Custom manufacturing services for businesses to produce their own branded chocolate products, providing both capacity and capability.
- Licensed Products: Revenue from licensed chocolate products including Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill (Unilever), Bundaberg Rum, and Gordon's Pink Gin Chocolate.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Chocolatier Australia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chocolatier Australia manufactures and sells premium hand-crafted chocolates including truffles, pralines, liqueur-filled chocolates, fruit jellies, chocolate hearts, bars, and seasonal Easter products. The company sells primarily wholesale to hospitality venues, gift and hamper businesses, and a national network of stockists, while operating the Chocilo Melbourne retail shop and online store for direct consumer sales. It also offers contract manufacturing services for businesses seeking custom branded chocolate products and produces licensed chocolate ranges under brands such as Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill, Bundaberg Rum, and Gordon's Pink Gin.
Product overview
Chocolatier Australia is a family-owned Australian premium chocolate manufacturer founded in 1985 by the Grisold family in Melbourne. The company operates both B2C (retail and online through Chocilo Melbourne) and B2B (wholesale and contract manufacturing) channels. The core product portfolio includes handcrafted gourmet chocolates (truffles, pralines, liqueur chocolates, fruit jellies), chocolate hearts in various foil colors, chocolate bars, and seasonal Easter products. The company also produces licensed chocolates for iconic Australian brands (Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill, Bundaberg Rum) and offers custom contract manufacturing services. A standout initiative is Puddles the Platypus, a charity product donating 25% of profits to the Australian Platypus Conservancy. In April 2025, Chocolatier Australia was acquired by Koko Black as part of their expansion strategy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gourmet Chocolates (Individual Truffles & Pralines) Handcrafted premium individual chocolates in milk, dark, and white varieties, including truffles, pralines, liqueur-filled chocolates, and fruit jellies. Core business product line for nearly 40 years, sold wholesale to hospitality and stockists and via Chocilo Melbourne.
- Chocolate Gifts Curated collections of premium chocolates designed for gifting occasions, including boxed assortments and special occasion selections for retail and corporate gifting customers.
- Chocolate Hearts Handcrafted solid milk chocolate hearts wrapped in red, pink, gold, silver, mint green, mauve, and ice blue foils, available in 6-pack gift boxes through 5kg bulk quantities for retail or hospitality use.
- Chocolate Bars & Novelty Premium chocolate bars including Pure Milk, Pure Dark, Almond Milk, and Speckle varieties, individually wrapped for convenience and suitable for retail or hospitality use.
- Hospitality Chocolates Bulk chocolate products for the hospitality industry including tablets, hearts, flow-wrapped chocolates, twist wraps, and large assortments designed for hotels, restaurants, cafes, and corporate use. Supplied to top Australian chefs, restaurants, hotels, and hospitality venues since the 1980s.
- Easter Chocolates Seasonal Easter product range including chocolate Easter eggs from 17g to 600g, 6-pack egg selections, Hot Cross Bun chocolates, chocolate bunnies, and licensed Easter products.
- Licensed Chocolates Chocolate products produced under license from iconic Australian brands including Golden Gaytime and Bubble O'Bill (Unilever), Bundaberg Rum N Raisin (Bundaberg Rum Distillery), and Gordon's Pink Gin Chocolate (Diageo).
- Puddles the Platypus Milk chocolate platypus character product range with 25% of profits donated to the Australian Platypus Conservancy for conservation research and advocacy.
- Contract Manufacturing Custom chocolate manufacturing services providing capacity and capability for businesses to create their own branded chocolate products, including licensed and proprietary formulations. Wholesale enquiries via [email protected] with a dedicated customer service team for business development.
- Chocilo Melbourne Retail Retail store and online sales channel operated by Joanne and Bruce Grisold at 244 Waterdale Road, Ivanhoe, offering the Chocolatier Australia product range along with signature products, cafe experience, and personalized customer service.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue projected to triple by 2029 following Koko Black acquisition
Companies that use Chocolatier Australia
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Chocolatier Australia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Chocolatier Australia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Koko BlackflagshipKoko Black acquired Chocolatier Australia and its manufacturing facility as part of its expansion strategy. The acquired facility will support increased local production and retail expansion with projected revenue to triple by 2029.
- Rainforest AlliancecorePartnership with Rainforest Alliance to ensure all cocoa is certified as being socially and environmentally sustainable. Chocolatier Australia is a member of Rainforest Alliance, an organisation working to ensure sustainable and ethical production of cocoa around the world.
- Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)coreMember of APCO, a not for profit leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Committed to meeting Australian 2025 National Packaging Targets and maintaining packaging recyclability standards.
- Australian Platypus Conservancycore25% of profits from Puddles the Platypus chocolate products donated annually to support research and advocacy to save local platypus colonies. Currently supporting APC to fund platypus habitat research.
- Edible BloomscoreProud long-term partner for nearly 15-17 years. Edible Blooms creates signature chocolate bouquets and gourmet hampers featuring Chocolatier Australia products. Multiple locations across Australia including Port Melbourne, Beaconsfield NSW, West End QLD, Keswick SA, and Subiaco WA.
- Interflora AustraliacorePartnership to provide quality chocolate add-on items for Interflora customers purchasing floral or hamper gifts. Quality product with expansive range and excellent packaging presentation made in Australia.
- UnilevercoreLicensing partnership for iconic Australian brands including Golden Gaytime and Bubble O'Bill. Combined with premium chocolate to create perfect Easter treats.
- Bundaberg Rum DistillerycorePartnership with Bundaberg Rum Distillery in Queensland to offer Bundaberg Rum N Raisin chocolate with other flavours to come.
- DiageocoreLicensing partnership for Diageo products including Gordon's Pink Gin Chocolate. Smooth milk chocolate enrobing a centre of premium Pink Gordons Gin.
- National Breast Cancer FoundationminorPast partnership producing 'pink' boxes to raise funds for NBCF.
- Children's Hospital Foundation AustraliaminorPast partnership producing Dr. Bunny chocolate products to raise funds for CHFA.
- Josh's EggsminorEaster 2022 charity egg partnership with Victorian family-owned small business, raising money for Royal Children's Hospital appeal sold through Woolworths.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Chocolatier Australia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Koko Black: Koko Black is an Australian premium chocolate brand and parent company that acquired Chocolatier Australia in April 2025. Operates 25+ retail stores nationally and shares the premium European-style chocolate positioning, making it the most directly comparable peer and now parent.
- Lindt & Sprüngli (Australia): Lindt is a global premium chocolate incumbent with major Australian retail and duty-free presence. Competes head-to-head with Chocolatier Australia in the premium truffle/praline and gifting segments through Lindt and Lindt Excellence ranges.
- Ferrero Rocher / Ferrero Australia: Ferrero is a global premium chocolate incumbent (Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella) with extensive Australian gifting, hospitality, and confectionery presence. Competes with Chocolatier Australia for premium gifting and hotel amenity programmes.
- Cadbury (Mondelēz Australia): Cadbury is Australia's dominant broad-line chocolate manufacturer (owned by Mondelēz). Competes across mass and premium tiers, including seasonal Easter ranges (where Chocolatier's licensed Golden Gaytime eggs compete) and gifting assortments.
Direct peers
- Haigh's Chocolates: Haigh's is one of Australia's oldest and most established premium chocolate manufacturers (founded 1915, Adelaide-based), with a comparable family-owned heritage, retail store network, wholesale hospitality supply, and premium gift-assortment focus overlapping directly with Chocolatier Australia.
- Darrell Lea: Darrell Lea is an iconic Australian confectionery manufacturer and stockist of Chocolatier Australia, producing chocolates, lollies, and gifting assortments with national retail distribution. Directly comparable in product category, gifting focus, and Australian channel coverage.
- Guylian: Guylian is a Belgian premium chocolate praline and seashell novelty manufacturer with global gifting distribution. Directly comparable product category (European-style pralines and chocolate novelties) and similar hospitality and duty-free channel exposure.
Emerging players
- Pana Chocolate: Pana Chocolate is an Australian premium organic, raw, vegan chocolate brand with a strong natural/sustainability positioning. Competes in the premium Australian chocolate category with overlapping gifting and hospitality channels and a shared sustainability narrative.
- Hotel Chocolat (Australia): Hotel Chocolat is a UK-origin premium chocolate brand expanding in Australia with a focus on gifting, hampers, and hospitality channels. Competes in the premium truffle and gifting segments with overlapping distribution and target customers.
Regional players
- Whittaker's: Whittaker's is a family-owned New Zealand premium chocolate manufacturer with strong Australasian gifting and hospitality presence. Highly comparable family-owned heritage, premium bar/novelty range, and trans-Tasman distribution overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chocolatier Australia social profiles
Digital presenceChocolatier Australia compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Chocolatier Australia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chocolatier Australia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Chocolatier Australia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chocolatier Australia 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 Chocolatier Australia
What does Chocolatier Australia do?
Chocolatier Australia manufactures and sells premium hand-crafted chocolates including truffles, pralines, liqueur-filled chocolates, fruit jellies, chocolate hearts, bars, and seasonal Easter products. The company sells primarily wholesale to hospitality venues, gift and hamper businesses, and a national network of stockists, while operating the Chocilo Melbourne retail shop and online store for direct consumer sales. It also offers contract manufacturing services for businesses seeking custom branded chocolate products and produces licensed chocolate ranges under brands such as Golden Gaytime, Bubble O'Bill, Bundaberg Rum, and Gordon's Pink Gin.
Is Chocolatier Australia a public or private company?
Chocolatier Australia is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Chocolatier Australia founded?
Chocolatier Australia was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Chocolatier Australia based?
Chocolatier Australia is headquartered in Heidelberg West, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Chocolatier Australia make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Chocolate Sales are the primary driver. The others are retail Sales - Chocilo Melbourne, contract Manufacturing and licensed Products.
Who are Chocolatier Australia's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Koko Black, Lindt & Sprüngli (Australia), Ferrero Rocher / Ferrero Australia and Cadbury (Mondelēz Australia). Direct peers are Haigh's Chocolates, Darrell Lea and Guylian. Emerging players are Pana Chocolate and Hotel Chocolat (Australia). Whittaker's is listed as a regional player.
Does Chocolatier Australia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chocolatier Australia.
What industry is Chocolatier Australia in?
Chocolatier Australia's product category is Premium Chocolate Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAAAD, Confectionery Manufacturing (Chocolate, Candy, Gum), with a secondary code of CRADABAA, Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery. Its NAICS code is 311352 and its SIC code is 2000.