De Bonte Koe Chocolade
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is a family-owned Dutch artisanal chocolate maker (founded 1992, Schiedam) producing handmade bonbons, deluxe bars, and chocolate greeting cards, distributed via five retail stores, 15+ branded 24/7 Chocomaten vending machines, an e-commerce webshop, UNIQLO shop-in-shops, and B2B channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSchiedam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What De Bonte Koe Chocolade does
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is a family-owned Dutch artisanal chocolate manufacturer founded in 1992 in Schiedam, Netherlands. The company handcrafts bonbons, truffles, deluxe chocolate bars (repen), chocolate greeting cards (wenskaarten), gift boxes, and breakfast items using organically certified cocoa sourced from the Dominican Republic through the Grupo Conacado cooperative, with cane sugar and organic cow or rice milk. Production takes place in a central facility housed in three former jenever (gin) distilleries in Schiedam, where a team of approximately six chocolatiers produces a portfolio that has expanded to include viral flavor innovations such as the Pistachio Künefe (Dubai-style) Deluxe reep, Pistache Floss, Pandan Kokos, Hazelnut Crunch, Zeezout Chips, and Chocolate Covered Pringles, alongside limited-edition collaborations with brands such as WOEI, Bobby's Gin, The Seaweed Company, Upfront, and UNIQLO.
The company operates a multi-channel distribution model combining five physical retail stores (Schiedam, Rotterdam x2, Den Haag x2), a network of more than 15 branded 24/7 automated vending machines called Chocomaten across seven Dutch cities, shop-in-shop locations inside UNIQLO in Rotterdam and Den Haag, and a WooCommerce-powered D2C webshop at debontekoe.nl. Business customers are served through a dedicated B2B corporate-gifting portal (Zakelijk account, personalization from 100 units, multi-address delivery, invoice ordering) and a Horeca channel supplying hospitality venues with bonbons, warm chocolate, and Chocodrank lolly's. Revenue is generated via unit-based transaction pricing across all channels, with individual bonbons from €1.40, deluxe bars €8.95–€14.95, gift vouchers €10–€100, and large gift boxes up to €215.75; backstage tours (€12.50 per person) provide an experiential revenue stream.
The second-generation leadership team — co-owners Connor and Amy Klein, children of founders Carmel Klein Kelly and Cees Klein — currently runs the company, which is B Corp certified (2024) and was recognized as an FD Gazelle in 2025 for placing among the fastest-growing companies in the Netherlands. Recent growth has been driven by aggressive expansion of the Chocomaten network, a high-cadence product launch cycle leveraging TikTok trends, and an expanding portfolio of limited-edition brand collaborations.
De Bonte Koe Chocolade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- De Bonte Koe Chocolade
- Legal name
- De Bonte Koe BV
- Website
- https://debontekoe.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- De Bonte Koe Chocolade is a family-owned Dutch artisanal chocolate maker (founded 1992, Schiedam) producing handmade bonbons, deluxe bars, and chocolate greeting cards, distributed via five retail stores, 15+ branded 24/7 Chocomaten vending machines, an e-commerce webshop, UNIQLO shop-in-shops, and B2B channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
De Bonte Koe Chocolade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisanal Confectionery
- NAICS
- Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445)
- SIC
- Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery (CRAHAGAH), Chocolate & Confectionery Shops (THAFAGAD)
Keywords
Where De Bonte Koe Chocolade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schiedam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices16 records
Markets served
De Bonte Koe Chocolade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Store Sales: Physical storefront sales across 5 stores in Schiedam, Rotterdam, and Den Haag. Stores offer tasting experiences and direct customer engagement.
- E-commerce Webshop: Direct-to-consumer online sales via debontekoe.nl, offering same-day dispatch for orders before 15:00 on weekdays. Products shipped via PostNL, including mailbox-size items and packages.
- B2B Corporate Gifting: Business accounts enabling personalized corporate gifts with company logos from 100+ units, multi-address delivery, and invoice ordering.
- Horeca/Hospitality: Supply of handcrafted bonbons, warm chocolate with chocolate shavings, and chocodrank lolly's to restaurants, lunchrooms, and hospitality venues.
- Chocomaten (Vending Machines): 24/7 automated vending machines offering handcrafted chocolate products at 20+ locations across the Netherlands, enabling round-the-clock sales without staffing costs.
- Backstage Tours: Guided 20-minute backstage tours of the production facility in Schiedam, priced at €12.50 per person including drinks and a bouchée, generating experiential revenue and brand loyalty.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual chocolate pieces (bonbons, truffels) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Deluxe chocolate bars (single serve) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Assorted bonbon boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Chocolate greeting cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Backstage tours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift boxes and bundles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Breakfast products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | B2B corporate accounts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is an artisan Dutch chocolate maker that handcrafts chocolates, bonbons, bouchées, truffles, and bars using organically certified cocoa from the Dominican Republic. The company sells these handcrafted confections through five physical stores, a network of 15+ 24/7 Chocomaten vending machines, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce webshop, and dedicated B2B channels for corporate gifting and hospitality businesses across the Netherlands.
Product overview
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is an artisan Dutch chocolate company founded in 1992, operating as a family business across a network of physical stores, 24/7 automated vending machines (Chocomaten), an e-commerce webshop, and a B2B business account channel. The product portfolio is organized into a core confectionery line (handmade bonbons, deluxe chocolate bars/repen, and assorted gift boxes) supplemented by specialty product categories including edible chocolate greeting cards (wenskaarten), breakfast items (granola, sprinkles, hot chocolate), personalized/corporate chocolate, and branded merchandise. The Chocomaten vending machines and Backstage Tours extend the brand's omnichannel presence, while the B2B Zakelijk Account and Horeca channels serve corporate and hospitality clients. Key flagship products include the viral Pistache Künefe (Dubai) Deluxe reep, Gevulde Koetjes (marshmallow), and a rotating line of seasonal and collaboration bars (e.g., WOEI Ube Crunch Bar, UNIQLO Matcha Reep). All products are made with organically certified cocoa beans sourced from the Dominican Republic via Grupo Conacado.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Same-day dispatch for orders placed before 15:00 on weekdays
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use De Bonte Koe Chocolade
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration17 records
Feature4 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Grupo Conacado (Dominican Republic)coreCocoa sourcing partnership with the Grupo Conacado cooperative in the Dominican Republic. De Bonte Koe purchases biologically certified cocoa beans through this cooperative, ensuring fair prices for cocoa farmers and supporting sustainable farming practices.
- JINC (Bliksemstages)minorPartnership with JINC to provide lightning internships (Bliksemstages) helping young people find their way to the job market.
- StroomopwaartsminorSocial partnership with Stroomopwaarts, an organization that guides people with a distance to the labor market.
- PameijerminorSocial partnership with Pameijer, supporting people with disabilities in their work integration journey.
- Surfkids Shredding SenegalminorSupport for the surf team 'Surfkids Shredding Senegal' in Dakar, enabling youth to pursue their passion and develop new skills.
- Juist SchiedamminorLocal Schiedam partnership with Juist Druk & Print for printing and communications needs.
- The Seaweed CompanyminorCollaboration between two Schiedam companies resulting in the 'Caramel Royal Kombu Seaweed' vegan chocolate bar with 55% cocoa.
- Bobby's GinminorCollaboration with Schiedam-based Bobby's Gin resulting in a limited edition chocolate bar filled with caramel enriched with the award-winning gin.
- WOEIminorLimited Edition Ube Crunch Bar collaboration with WOEI, the Rotterdam-based international street-culture brand.
- Perry de ManminorCollaboration with Rotterdam artist Perry de Man on an exclusive limited edition milk chocolate bar with spekkoek (Dutch spice cake) spices.
- UpfrontminorCollaboration on a chocolate protein bar for fitness-conscious consumers, launched January 2020.
- The Oh CollectiveminorDevelopment of an aphrodisiac bonbon using three natural ingredients believed to have lust-enhancing properties, in partnership with The Oh Collective.
- Bob MollemaminorCollaboration with artist Bob Mollema to develop three chocolate bars containing mushrooms (no psychedelic properties) — a first for a Dutch chocolatier.
- Xaviera AltenaminorArtist who designs the chocolate greeting card (wenskaarten) collection, featuring hand-drawn illustrations and personalized messages.
- Conchōbar (Amplified Chocolate)minorCollaboration resulting in Conchōbar Pleasure bonbons, a product line combining De Bonte Koe's chocolate craftsmanship with Conchōbar's flavor expertise.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lindt & Sprüngli: Swiss premium chocolate manufacturer with strong Dutch retail presence (Lindt, Lindor Excellence). Comparable premium bar and gift box categories, but with far broader product portfolio and international scale.
- Côte d'Or: Belgian mass-premium chocolate brand (Mondelez-owned) with strong Benelux market share. Comparable product categories (bars, pralines) but at much greater scale and lower price points than De Bonte Koe.
- Droste: Historic Dutch chocolate brand founded in 1863, now owned by Continental Bakeries. Comparable position in Dutch retail chocolate with broader portfolio and longer operating history than De Bonte Koe.
- Godiva Chocolatier: Belgian luxury chocolate brand with global boutique network and broader mass-premium positioning. Comparable product mix (bonbons, bars, gift boxes) but at significantly greater scale and international footprint.
Direct peers
- Leonidas: Belgian premium chocolatier with similar bonbon-and-praline retail model, comparable per-piece pricing, and extensive boutique store network across Benelux. Operates franchise and company stores similar to De Bonte Koe's direct retail approach.
- Pierre Marcolini: Belgian artisan chocolatier with bean-to-bar sourcing, handmade bonbons, and high-end retail boutiques. Highly comparable on craft positioning, premium pricing, and curated product assortment similar to De Bonte Koe's Deluxe repen line.
- Neuhaus: Belgian premium chocolate brand best known for inventing the Belgian praline. Comparable position in gift-box and bonbon retail, with stronger brand recognition in Benelux and similar premium gifting positioning.
- Tony's Chocolonely: Dutch B Corp chocolate brand with comparable mission-driven, fair-trade positioning and artisanal roots. The most direct Dutch competitor for premium ethical chocolate, though at substantially greater scale with international retail distribution.
- Hotel Chocolat: UK-based premium chocolate maker and retailer with comparable direct-to-consumer model, own retail stores, webshop, and subscription business. Similar premium positioning and bar/bonbon assortment.
Emerging players
- Original Beans: Amsterdam-headquartered single-origin bean-to-bar chocolate maker with similar fair-trade sourcing and sustainability focus. Comparable artisanal and organic positioning, though more specialised in single-origin bars versus De Bonte Koe's broader confectionery range.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
De Bonte Koe Chocolade social profiles
Digital presenceDe Bonte Koe Chocolade compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
De Bonte Koe Chocolade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
De Bonte Koe Chocolade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
De Bonte Koe Chocolade 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 De Bonte Koe Chocolade
What does De Bonte Koe Chocolade do?
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is an artisan Dutch chocolate maker that handcrafts chocolates, bonbons, bouchées, truffles, and bars using organically certified cocoa from the Dominican Republic. The company sells these handcrafted confections through five physical stores, a network of 15+ 24/7 Chocomaten vending machines, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce webshop, and dedicated B2B channels for corporate gifting and hospitality businesses across the Netherlands.
Is De Bonte Koe Chocolade a public or private company?
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was De Bonte Koe Chocolade founded?
De Bonte Koe Chocolade was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is De Bonte Koe Chocolade based?
De Bonte Koe Chocolade is headquartered in Schiedam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does De Bonte Koe Chocolade make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Retail Store Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Webshop, B2B Corporate Gifting, horeca/Hospitality, chocomaten (Vending Machines) and backstage Tours.
Who are De Bonte Koe Chocolade's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lindt & Sprüngli, Côte d'Or, Droste and Godiva Chocolatier. Direct peers are Leonidas, Pierre Marcolini, Neuhaus, Tony's Chocolonely and Hotel Chocolat. Original Beans is listed as an emerging player.
Does De Bonte Koe Chocolade have an API?
No public API is recorded for De Bonte Koe Chocolade.
What industry is De Bonte Koe Chocolade in?
De Bonte Koe Chocolade's product category is Artisanal Confectionery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADABAA, Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery, with a secondary code of CRAHAGAH, Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery. Its NAICS code is 31135 and its SIC code is 2060.