Friis Holm Chokolade

What Friis Holm Chokolade does

Friis-Holm Chokolade is a privately held Danish bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer operating from its own factory in Herslev, just outside Roskilde, Denmark, founded by chef-turned-chocolatier Mikkel Friis-Holm and legally incorporated as Friis-Holm Chocolate A/S in 2014 with backing from small investors and the Danish Structural Bank Vækstfonden. The company controls the entire production process in-house, from sourcing single-variety cacao beans directly from Nicaraguan farmer cooperatives (a relationship originating in a 2007 Danida development project) and the Bejofo Estate in Madagascar, through precision fermentation in 1 m³ boxes, slow drying protocols, a more than 100-year-old longitudinal conche, and modern tempering machines, through to moulded and packaged bars.

The product range centers on premium chocolate bars (100 g, 25 g, and 5 g formats), filled bonbons including co-developed lines with Danish craft producers (Hansen Is, Herslev Bryghus, Stauning Whisky, Frederiksdal, Johan Bülow, Hattesen, Thise Dairy), dragées, hot chocolate, marzipan bread, gift cards, and 1.5 kg couverture blocks for professional kitchens. Revenue is generated through direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipping to 25+ European countries, a factory shop at the Herslev site, selected Danish retailers, professional couverture sales, and foodservice supply to Michelin-starred restaurants including 3-star Restaurant Jordnær. Pricing is firmly premium (approximately 115 DKK per 100 g bar), supported by organic certification (DK-ØKO-100) and an uncommonly consistent International Chocolate Awards record, including 13 Gold Medals and Best Chocolate-maker at the 2026 European Championship in Bordeaux and four Golds at the 2025 World Championship in Milan.

Name

Friis Holm Chokolade

Legal name

Friis-Holm Chocolate A/S

Website

https://friisholmchokolade.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Friis-Holm Chokolade is a privately held Danish bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer in Herslev, Denmark, producing single-origin bars, filled chocolates, and professional couverture from directly sourced cacao in Nicaragua and Madagascar. It sells to premium consumers across 25+ European countries via DTC e-commerce, selected Danish retailers, and Michelin-starred restaurants including 3-star Restaurant Jordnær.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Bean-to-Bar Chocolate

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

Keywords

• Bean to bar chocolate
• Single origin chocolate
• Premium artisan chocolate
• Craft chocolate bars
• Couverture chocolate wholesale

Headquarters

HQ city

Herslev / Roskilde

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Sells chocolate bars, filled chocolates, dragées, couverture, and gift cards directly to consumers through their online store with shipping across multiple European countries.
2. Retail and Foodservice Wholesale: Sells through selected retailers across Denmark and supplies specialty chocolate to Michelin-starred restaurants and gourmet food establishments.
3. Couverture / Bulk Chocolate Sales: Sells 1.5 kg couverture chocolate blocks (O'Payo, Madagascar, White Chocolate) to professional kitchens, bakeries, and confectioners for use in their own production.
4. Factory Shop / On-site Sales: Operates a factory shop at the Herslev facility open Monday–Friday, selling full product range directly to visitors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Friis Holm Chokolade is a Danish bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer that produces premium single-origin chocolate bars, filled bonbons, dragées, gift boxes, and bulk 1.5kg couverture chocolate from carefully sourced cacao beans (primarily Nicaragua and Madagascar). Operating from its own factory in Herslev, Denmark, the company controls the full production process including fermentation, roasting, grinding, conching, tempering, and moulding, and sells direct to consumers via e-commerce and a factory shop, plus supplies Michelin-starred restaurants and professional pastry/bakery buyers.

Product overview

Friis-Holm Chokolade is a Danish bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer founded by chef-turned-chocolatier Mikkel Friis-Holm in 2008. The company operates its own factory in Herslev, Denmark, producing premium single-origin chocolates from carefully sourced cacao beans, primarily from Nicaragua (O'Payo, Chuno, Johe, Nicaliso, Medagla, La Dalia, Rugoso, Barba varieties) and Madagascar (Bejofo Estate). The product portfolio centers on chocolate bars in multiple formats (100g, 25g, 5g), filled bonbon chocolates, gift box collections, and bulk couverture for professional use. The company is renowned for its direct-trade relationships with farmers, organic certifications, and numerous International Chocolate Awards victories including World and European Gold Medals. Key products include the award-winning La Dalia series, O'Payo Milk and Dark lines, Chuno Triple Turned, and specialty items like hot chocolate mixes, dragée confections, and marzipan bread.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chocolate Bars (100g) Single-origin dark, milk, and white chocolate bars in 100g format, featuring various cocoa percentages (50%-100%), single-origin varieties from Nicaragua and Madagascar, and flavored variants such as Dark Milk, Hazelnut, Soy, and Green Cinnamon. Targeted at premium individual consumers and gift buyers.
• Chocolate Bars (25g) Smaller 25g format chocolate bars, including single-origin varieties and award-winning products from the same bean sources as the 100g bars. Designed for tasting, sampling, and inclusion in gift selections.
• Mini Chocolate Bars (5g) Mini 5g chocolate bars available in sampler formats for tasting different varieties, including fermentation selection cubes and mix packs. Targeted at tasting, comparison, and discovery purchases.
• Filled Chocolates (Bonbons) Handcrafted bonbon chocolates with various fillings including seasonal fruits, liquors (Stauning Whisky, Frederiksdal Cherry Wine), beer-inspired flavors (Herslev Beers), and an award-winning medal collection with absinthe, port wine plum, and geranium. Includes Hansen ice cream-inspired flavors.
• Gift Boxes Curated chocolate gift sets including World Gold Winners selection, organic selections, fermentation tastings, Wakayama Japanese flavor collection, and percentage comparison packs. Targeted at gift buyers for special occasions.
• Couverture Chocolate (1500g) Bulk chocolate for professional use including Madagascar 64% Fast Dried, O'Payo Milk 50%, O'Payo 70%, and White Chocolate 40% in 1.5kg professional-format packages. Targeted at bakers, pastry chefs, confectioners, and food manufacturers.
• Pålægschokolade and Hot Chocolate Danish-style slicing chocolate for bread topping, available in O'Payo Milk 50% and Dark 68% formats, as well as hot chocolate mixes in various sizes including O'Payo Hot Chocolate 200g and O'Payo Pålægschokolade Mix 112g.
• Dragée Products Premium dragée chocolates featuring roasted Sicilian Avola almonds enrobed in O'Payo 50% milk chocolate with coriander and sea salt, Sicilian Bronte pistachios in white chocolate with lemon, and salty liquorice coated in award-winning dark milk chocolate.
• Marzipan Bread Classic Lübecker marzipan (60% almonds, 40% sugar/glucose) coated in award-winning Nicaliso 70% dark chocolate, in 250g format.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift cards available in denominations from 150 DKK to 2,000 DKK, allowing recipients to purchase award-winning bean-to-bar chocolates. Can be sent digitally to recipients with personalized message.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 consecutive years of International Chocolate Awards Gold Medal wins across multiple product categories
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hansen Is (Hansen Ice Cream)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In 2023, the Hansen family behind Hansen Is (Hansen Ice Cream), a renowned Danish ice cream maker spanning multiple generations, entered into ownership with Friis-Holm Chocolate alongside founder Mikkel Friis-Holm. The partnership led to the creation of 'Filled Chocolate Hansens' – filled chocolates interpreting classic Hansen ice cream flavors (Solbærstang, Solstang, Hindbærbæger, Rabarbervaffel) into bonbon format.
• Herslev Bryghus (Organic Farm Brewery)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Herslev Bryghus is the neighbor and co-location partner of Friis-Holm's factory in Herslev. The two companies collaborated on Herslev Beers filled chocolates – chocolates inspired by Herslev Bryghus beer products. The factory is located next to the organic farm brewery.
• Herslev BryghusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015When Herslev Bryghus created a beer using Friis-Holm's chocolate, Friis-Holm reciprocated by creating 'Filled Chocolate Herslev Beers' – chocolates inspired by four Herslev beer products (Malt caramel, Star anis caramel from Stjernebryg, Chestnut crunch from Kastanje Brown Ale, and Ginger ganache from Ingefærbrus).
• Thise DairycoreOthers · 1 January 2015Thise Dairy in Northern Jutland, Denmark supplies organic milk powder used in Friis-Holm's milk chocolate production. The partnership ensures consistent, high-quality organic dairy inputs for their milk chocolate range.
• Johan Bülow (Lakrids by Johan Bülow)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Johan Bülow's liquorice brand supplies salt liquorice for the O'Payo Milk Liquorice 50% chocolate bar, combining Friis-Holm's award-winning milk chocolate with premium Danish liquorice.
• Stauning WhiskyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Stauning Whisky, a Danish craft whisky distillery, collaborated on 'Filled Chocolate Stauning Whisky' – filled chocolates featuring Stauning KAOS Triple Malt whisky at cask strength, enrobed in Johe 70% dark chocolate. The combination was described as 'a match made in Denmark.'
• Frederiksdal Cherry WineminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Frederiksdal supplies Stevnsbær (traditional Danish sour cherries) and cherry brandy for 'Filled Chocolate Frederiksdal' – a cherry explosion featuring dried whole sour cherries rehydrated in cherry brandy, all enrobed in Johe 70% dark chocolate. Development reportedly took over a year.
• Hattesen Lakridskonfekt (Ærø)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Hattesen Lakridskonfekt, based on the island of Ærø, makes the salty liquorice used in the Dragée Liquorice product – premium dragée with liquorice enrobed in Friis-Holm's award-winning 55% dark milk chocolate.
• Restaurant JordnærcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Restaurant Jordnær (3 Michelin stars as of 2024, co-owned by Chef Eric Kragh Vildgaard and Tina Kragh Vildgaard) is a key customer of Friis-Holm chocolate. Chef Vildgaard has praised Mikkel Friis-Holm's dedication, noting he has 'been named the world's best chocolatier multiple times.'
• Bejofo Estate (Madagascar)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Bejofo Estate on Madagascar is described as a 'massive estate that grows some world famous cacao.' Supplies the cacao beans for the Madagascar Fast Dried and Madagascar Slow Dried chocolate lines. The estate produces beans with distinctive flavor profiles (acidic, clean for Fast Dried; complex, raspberry notes for Slow Dried).
• Alfonso's Plantation (Don Alfonso)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Don Alfonso operates a plantation in El Castillo, Southern Nicaragua, described as 'an absolute fantastic, old plantation with a lot of life and almost a dreamy atmosphere.' Supplies the beans for the Don Alfonso 70% chocolate bar. Alfonso is described as 'an expert within this field' who cultivates the cacao beans.
• Bonnat Chocolatier (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013From 2007 to 2013, Friis-Holm's chocolate was produced in collaboration with the old French chocolate factory Bonnat Chocolatier in Rhône, before Mikkel established his own factory in Denmark.
• Nicaraguan Cocoa Farmers (Danida Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Direct trade partnerships with Nicaraguan cocoa farmers established in 2007–2008 through the Danida-supported project. Farmers grow high-quality cacao varieties (Chuno, O'Payo, La Dalia, Johe, Nicaliso, Medagla, Rugoso, Barba) under Friis-Holm's guidance on fermentation and post-harvest protocols. Friis-Holm pays significantly above market and Fairtrade prices.
• Danida (Danish International Development Cooperation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Danida, a Danish government-sponsored development organization, supported the idea that farmers should grow high-quality cacao to improve farmers' income. Through this support, Mikkel Friis-Holm established a close cooperation with Nicaraguan farmers involved in the Danida project in 2007. The cacao beans from these farmers remain a core part of the business today.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pralus: French family-owned bean-to-bar chocolate maker with its own plantation in Madagascar and a single-origin bar range. Highly comparable profile: producer, single-origin focus, international awards, premium pricing.
• Bonnat Chocolatier: Historic French chocolate maker (founded 1884) that was Friis-Holm's production partner from 2007–2013 before Friis-Holm built his own factory. Direct comparable as a heritage single-origin chocolate house operating in France and internationally.
• Amedei: Italian premium bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded by Cecilia Tessieri, repeatedly awarded at International Chocolate Awards and focused on single-origin cacao from Latin America. Closely comparable as a craft, award-winning, single-origin premium chocolate brand with chef and retail distribution across Europe.
• Original Beans: German-based premium chocolate brand focused on direct trade, single-origin cacao, and conservation/ethical sourcing. Comparable narrative (direct trade above Fairtrade, single-variety, founder-led) and Michelin-grade customer base.
• To'ak Chocolate: Ecuadorian ultra-premium single-origin chocolate aged in whiskey/cognac casks, positioned at the very top of the craft chocolate market. Comparable as a small-batch, ultra-premium, single-origin producer targeting collectors and luxury gifting.
• Michel Cluizel: French premium single-origin chocolate maker with Plantation Grands Crus range and long-standing fine-dining/foodservice presence. Comparable in premium positioning, single-origin sourcing, and chef distribution.
• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker known for single-origin bars, factory transparency, and Michelin/fine-foodservice accounts. Comparable craft, single-origin, education-led brand building.
• Akesson's Organic: Single-estate Madagascar cacao producer making bean-to-bar chocolate from their own plantations, including Bejofo Estate — the same estate that supplies Friis-Holm's Madagascar bars. Direct comparable on estate-level single-origin craft chocolate.

Broad incumbents

• Felchlin: Swiss premium chocolate and couverture maker serving artisan pastry chefs with single-origin Grand Cru couvertures. Comparable in fine-dining/couverture B2B channel and single-origin sourcing, but operates at broader incumbent scale than Friis-Holm.
• Valrhona: French premium chocolate maker and dominant couverture supplier to professional bakeries and Michelin kitchens worldwide. Overlaps with Friis-Holm in couverture and fine-dining channels but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio — a benchmark incumbent for the chef channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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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 Friis Holm Chokolade