Benoit Chocolates

What Benoit Chocolates does

Benoit Chocolats (legal entity SAS Benoit Chocolats) is a privately held, family-owned French artisan chocolatier founded in 1975 in Angers, France, and currently managed by Anne-Françoise Benoit as gérante. The company handcrafts chocolates and confections in limited batches at its Angers workshop using traditional techniques and noble single-origin cocoa crus sourced from Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Madagascar, Vietnam, Peru, Cameroon, and Bolivia. Its product range centres on the registered signature Caramandes® (triangular caramelised-almond chocolate created in 2008), supplemented by ballotins, gift boxes, single-origin chocolate tablets, confectionery (macarons, fruit jellies, candied chestnuts), a Caramandes® spread, and bespoke corporate gift selections. Benoit Chocolats has won multiple Salon du Chocolat awards and was named among the 12 best chocolatiers in France by the Guide des Chocolats in 2010.

Name

Benoit Chocolates

Legal name

SAS BENOIT CHOCOLATS

Website

https://benoitchocolats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Benoit Chocolats is a privately held, family-owned French artisan chocolatier founded in 1975 in Angers, producing handcrafted chocolates and confections — including the signature Caramandes® — sold through boutiques in Angers and Paris, e-commerce, and authorised resellers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Artisan Confectionery

NAICS

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

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery (CRAHAGAH), Chocolate, Sweet Spreads & Syrups Manufacturing (AFAKADAK)

Keywords

• Artisan chocolates
• Handcrafted confections
• Single-origin tablets
• Corporate gifting
• French chocolatier

Headquarters

HQ city

Angers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Chocolate Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted artisanal chocolates and confections to consumers through company-owned boutiques in Angers and Paris, and through the e-commerce website. Includes individual product purchases, gift boxes, Caramandes, ballotins, and confectionery.
2. Corporate Gifting: Bulk and bespoke corporate gift orders for companies, institutions, and CSEs (comités d'entreprise). Products are customizable with company branding/image. Managed through dedicated business contact.
3. Reseller/Retail Distribution: Authorised resellers sell Caramandes and Benoit Chocolats products through their own retail channels, creating a secondary distribution and revenue stream beyond direct sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Benoit Chocolats is a French artisan chocolatier founded in 1975 in Angers that handcrafts premium chocolates and confections in its own workshop. The assortment centers on its signature Caramandes® triangular caramelised almond chocolates (since 2008), single-origin chocolate tablets made with noble cocoa crus, ballotins, macarons, orangettes, jellies and glazed chestnuts, plus seasonal limited editions such as OPUS. The company sells through three company-owned boutiques, an e-commerce website shipping across France and the EU, authorised resellers, and a corporate gifting service.

Product overview

Benoit Chocolates is an artisan chocolatier founded in 1975 in Angers, France, operating two boutiques in Angers and one in Paris's Marais district. The product portfolio centers on its signature Caramandes® product — handcrafted triangular sheets of caramelised almonds coated in dark or milk chocolate, created in 2008 — supported by a full range of artisanal chocolates including single-origin tablets from nine countries (Brazil, Cameroun, Bolivia, Madagascar, Vietnam, Peru, Venezuela, plus white and milk varieties), ballotins (assorted chocolate boxes), confectionery (macarons, fruit jellies, candied chestnuts), and a spreading paste. The company also operates a corporate gifting service offering customizable gift boxes for businesses. All products are handcrafted in Angers workshops using noble cocoa crus and traditional techniques, with free delivery on orders over €75 across France and the EU.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Caramandes®: The signature product: a thin triangular sheet of caramelized almonds coated in chocolate. Created in 2008, this product has won international awards and is available in multiple formats including gift boxes, chocolate bars, spreads, and travel boxes.

Products and services

• Caramandes® triangular chocolate Signature triangular chocolate with a caramelised almond centre; the flagship product of Benoit Chocolats, sold individually, in boxes and as part of assorted ranges. Sold to individual consumers and corporate gifting clients.
• Ballotins Assorted chocolate boxes (300g, 500g and other formats) filled with pralines, ganaches and signature creations, designed for gifting. Sold to individual consumers and used as a building block for corporate gifting baskets.
• Tablette Caramandes® Chocolate bar version of the signature Caramandes® recipe, sold as a tablet format. Aimed at consumers wanting the caramelised almond flavour in a shareable bar form.
• Pâte à Tartiner Caramandes® Spreadable version of the Caramandes® recipe in a jar, allowing consumers to use the caramelised almond chocolate flavour as a breakfast or snack spread.
• Voyage Caramandes® Travel-friendly boxed assortment of Caramandes® chocolates designed for portability and gifting on the move.
• Barre Caramandes® Individual bar format of the Caramandes® chocolate for single-serve consumption.
• Caramandes® Triangular Gift Box (Convive) Sharing-format gift box of triangular Caramandes® chocolates, intended as a hostess or convivial gift.
• Single-Origin Chocolate Tablets Chocolate tablets made from single-origin grand crus (Peru, Madagascar, Dominican Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, São Tomé), offered as part of the standing assortment. Targeted at connoisseurs interested in cocoa provenance and flavour differentiation.
• OPUS Blond Chocolate 35% Limited-edition seasonal chocolate creation made with a 35% blond chocolate formulation, released as part of the maison's seasonal collections. Sold to individual consumers during the relevant season.
• Confectionery (macarons, orangettes, jellies, glazed chestnuts) Traditional French confectionery range including macarons, orangettes (chocolate-dipped candied orange peel), fruit jellies and glazed chestnuts, produced in the maison's workshop. Sold as standalone items, in mixed boxes and as part of gifting assortments.
• Corporate Gifting Service Service for companies and organisations to order bespoke chocolate gifts, customised ballotins and end-of-year gifting campaigns, delivered across France. Targeted at HR, communications and purchasing teams running seasonal or event-driven gift programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Caramandes® has achieved international recognition, with products appreciated as far as Japan
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VietcacaocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietcacao is a Vietnamese cocoa initiative supporting the development of fine Vietnamese cocoa. The 2009 project employs young people with disabilities in Bên Tre, providing professional integration while producing Trinitario cocoa from the Mekong Delta. This partnership underpins the Vietnam-origin single-origin chocolate bar, reflecting shared values of ethical production and social impact.
• Mariage FrèresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe second Angers boutique (33 Rue Saint-Aubin) offers Mariage Frères premium teas alongside Benoit Chocolats products, creating a complementary pairing of high-end hot beverages with artisan chocolates.
• Authorised ResellersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent retailers across France and internationally who are authorised to sell Caramandes® and selected Benoit Chocolats products. A reseller map is available on the website. Businesses interested in becoming authorised resellers can contact [email protected].

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Menakao: Premium chocolate maker focused on Madagascar single-origin cocoa. Comparable on single-origin and ethical-sourcing story, though smaller and more direct-trade-oriented than Benoit.

Direct peers

• Pralus: French family-owned chocolatier famous for single-origin tablets (including Madagascar) and the Pyramidu'Aigueblanche. Comparable on single-origin grand cru focus and family-heritage positioning.
• Bonnat: Historic Voiron-based French chocolatier (founded 1884) and pioneer of single-origin chocolate bars. Highly comparable on single-origin tablet heritage and artisanal craft from a regional French base.
• Jacques Genin: Paris-based artisan chocolatier-pâtissier renowned for handcrafted caramels, pâtes de fruits, and chocolates. Directly comparable on artisanal handcraft, Paris boutique presence, and premium gift box range.
• Debauve & Gallais: Historic Parisian chocolatier founded in 1800, with boutique and corporate gifting. Comparable on heritage-led premium positioning, Paris retail, and B2B gift channel.
• Patrick Roger: French sculptor-chocolatier with boutiques in Paris and across France, focused on handcrafted artisanal chocolates and bold signature shapes. Comparable in scale, craftsmanship-led positioning, and French boutique retail model.
• La Maison du Chocolat: Iconic French premium chocolatier founded in 1977 in Paris, with boutiques, e-commerce, and corporate gifting. Highly comparable to Benoit: same Parisian heritage, handcrafted ganaches/pralines, multi-format gifting focus, and similar price points.
• Pierre Marcolini: Belgian-French premium chocolatier known for single-origin grand crus and signature creations, with boutiques in Paris and abroad. Closely mirrors Benoit's grand-cru tablet range and signature-product-led positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Valrhona: Dominant French B2B couvertures and grand crus maker serving professional pastry chefs worldwide. Comparable on grand-cru sourcing and premium positioning, but operates upstream B2B rather than retail/DTC.
• Cacao Barry: Global premium couvertures and grand crus brand (part of Barry Callebaut). Comparable on grand cru cocoa portfolio, but B2B-focused rather than direct-to-consumer artisan retail.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Benoitchocolats/?locale=fr_FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chocolats-benoit
• Instagraminstagram.com/benoitchocolats/?hl=fr
• TikToktiktok.com/@benoitchocolats
• Xx.com/Benoit_Chocolat

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 Benoit Chocolates