She Universe

What She Universe does

She Universe is a privately held New Zealand artisan chocolate maker headquartered in Christchurch, operating under the SHE Chocolates sub-brand and specializing in bean-to-bar chocolate produced from full cacao beans to preserve the natural cacao butter ratio. The company's product portfolio spans handcrafted bars, thins, snaps, batons, rolled chocolates, drinking chocolates (including the award-winning Decadent, Alive, and Pure lines), Hot Chocolate Orblets, vegan-friendly ranges, and signature Decadent Dates, with Solomon Islands single-origin cacao and local Canterbury ingredients as core sourcing pillars. Gold medals at the New Zealand Chocolate Awards 2022 and Pacifica Cacao & Chocolate 2022 underpin its premium positioning, alongside home-compostable packaging and organic certification across most SKUs.

The company runs a multi-channel go-to-market: direct-to-consumer ecommerce on Shopify with NZ-wide courier delivery (free over $99), three company-owned Chocolateries (Riverside in central Christchurch, Malthouse in Beckenham, and Cacao POD in Lyttelton), wholesale into organics shops, refilleries, and cafe counters across New Zealand, plus manual international shipping arranged via email inquiry. Beyond packaged goods, She Universe monetizes experiential services through The Chocolate Journey (a 2-hour immersive tasting at $125 per person), corporate and wedding chocolate offerings, and bespoke chocolate events for team building and conferences, addressing individual consumers, cafes, retailers, and enterprise/event buyers. The business is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, or headcount data.

Name

She Universe

Legal name

She Universe

Website

https://sheuniverse.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

She Universe is a Christchurch-based, privately held New Zealand bean-to-bar chocolatier producing handcrafted organic chocolate bars, drinking chocolates, and vegan ranges from Solomon Islands single-origin cacao, sold via Shopify DTC, three company-owned Chocolateries, NZ wholesale, and a $125 immersive tasting experience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Bean-to-Bar Chocolate

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351), Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292), Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers (42445)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Chocolatiers & Confectionery (CRAHAGAH), Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM), Chocolate & Confectionery Shops (THAFAGAD)

Keywords

• Bean-to-bar chocolate
• Handcrafted artisan chocolate
• Organic chocolate products
• Chocolate retail storefront
• Chocolate experiences events

Headquarters

HQ city

Christchurch

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Online e-commerce sales through Shopify storefront for packaged chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolates, vegan chocolates, and specialty products. B2C transactions with direct consumer shipping.
2. Physical Retail - Chocolateries: In-person sales at company-owned Chocolateries including Riverside Chocolaterie, Malthouse Chocolaterie, and Cacao POD for handcrafted chocolates and experiences.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale supply to organics shops, refilleries, and fine retail establishments across New Zealand. Products include packaged chocolates and loose chocolate 'moments' for cafe counters.
4. Experiential Services: The Chocolate Journey immersive 2-hour experience priced at $125 per person. Corporate and wedding chocolate orders for events, hampers, and gift offerings.
5. International Shipping: International delivery arranged via email inquiry with custom freight quotes and invoicing through unique payment links.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

She Universe is a New Zealand bean-to-bar chocolate maker and chocolatier that handcrafts organic chocolate products including chocolate bars, thins, snaps, batons, rolled chocolates, drinking chocolates, hot chocolate orblets, and vegan chocolate options. The company sells through a Shopify e-commerce storefront, three owned Chocolateries in Christchurch (Riverside, Malthouse, Cacao POD), wholesale to organics retailers and cafes, and an immersive 2-hour tasting experience called The Chocolate Journey. Custom chocolate offerings are also provided for corporate events, weddings, and team-building functions.

Product overview

She Universe is a New Zealand bean-to-bar chocolate maker and chocolatier offering handcrafted organic chocolate products. Their portfolio includes Packaged Chocolates (bars, batons, thins, snaps, rolled chocolates), Award Winning Chocolate (medal-winning treats), Pacific Cacao (Solomon Islands single origin), Hot Chocolates (drinking chocolates and Orblets), and Vegan Chocolates. The company operates physical retail locations (Riverside Chocolaterie in Christchurch central city and Malthouse Chocolaterie in Beckenham) and provides experiential services including The Chocolate Journey (immersive 2-hour tasting), Corporate & Wedding chocolate catering, and bespoke Chocolate Events for conferences and team building. Their signature products include Decadent Dates (their first-ever creation), award-winning drinking chocolates (Alive, Decadent, Pure), and the Mystical 'Me Bar' series (Awaken Me, Aware Me, Be Me, Free Me, Know Me, Open Me). All products emphasize organic, ethically sourced ingredients with Solomon Islands cacao and local Canterbury produce.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHE Chocolates: Award-winning handcrafted chocolate treats and gifts

Products and services

• Decadent Dates (3-pack) Fresh organic medjool dates filled with hazelnut and orange gianduja, enrobed in organic chocolate; the company's first-ever chocolate creation and signature product sold as a 90g 3-pack for $19.50 NZD.
• Cardamon & Coffee Mylk Chocolate Bar (80g) Gold medal-winning vegan mylk chocolate bar featuring cardamon and coffee flavors, sold as an 80g bar at $16.00 NZD for consumers seeking vegan premium chocolate.
• Drinking Chocolates (Alive, Decadent, Pure) 200g pouches Premium drinking chocolates using Solomon Islands single-origin cacao in home compostable 200g resealable pouches, priced from $25.90 to $34.50 NZD; includes the award-winning Decadent variety, Alive with coconut sugar and Canterbury hazelnuts, and Pure Cacao & Activated Maca with lucuma sweetener.
• Hot Chocolate Orblets (Original and Mayan Chilli) 3-pack Organic vegan-friendly handcrafted hot chocolate orblets in Original and Mayan Chilli varieties, sold as 3-packs of 114g at $17.50 NZD for easy make-at-home preparation with milk.
• Mystical 'Me Bar' Chocolate Bar Series Bean-to-bar chocolate bars in 58% and 70% cacao including Awaken Me, Aware Me, Be Me, Free Me, Know Me, and Open Me varieties, sold as 90g bars from $14.90 NZD targeting flavor exploration and vegan consumers.
• Chocolate Thins and Snaps range Thin snappy chocolate pieces including award-winning Sea of Love (caramel and sea salt), Southerly Snap (mint), A Tale of Two Tarts (passionfruit and blackcurrant), Dragon Snap (chilli and cacao nibs), Ginger Snap, and Sassy Sesame Snap, sold as 90g packs for gifting and snacking.
• Chocolate Rolled inclusions (Cacao Beans, Coffee Beans, Ginger, Hazelnuts) 100g Premium inclusions rolled in 66% organic chocolate and finished with cacao powder, sold as 100g packs at $15.90 NZD, featuring Vivace Espresso coffee beans, Ceres Organics crystallized ginger, and The Hazelnut Company spray-free hazelnuts.
• Batons (Hazel Heaven and Open Sesame) 2-pack Creamy hazelnut butter praline with crispy rice in dark chocolate (Hazel Heaven) and organic almond butter with tahini and caramelised sesame seeds in fairtrade organic chocolate (Open Sesame), sold as 2-packs of 100g at $15.50 NZD.
• Vegan Chocolate range Organic vegan-friendly chocolate products including thins, snaps, drinking chocolates, and bars made without animal products, served to vegan consumers seeking premium chocolate alternatives.
• Pacific Cacao - Solomon Islands Single Origin line Single-origin chocolates crafted using ethically sourced cacao from the Solomon Islands, including the Decadent Drinking Chocolate and Pure Cacao & Activated Maca drink, targeting consumers who value Pacific origin and ethical sourcing stories.
• The Chocolate Journey Immersive 2-hour chocolate tasting experience priced at $125 NZD per person, exploring cacao origins, ethical sourcing, craft, taste testing, and chocolate play; offered to individuals, couples, and groups visiting the Christchurch Chocolateries.
• Corporate & Wedding Chocolate service Custom chocolate creations for corporate events, hampers, gift offerings, wedding favors, and wedding dessert platters, ordered via [email protected] for businesses and couples across New Zealand.
• Chocolate Events (Functions & Events) Bespoke chocolate events for conferences, team building, and private groups, collaborating with venues in Otautahi Christchurch including the company's own Chocolateries; bookings via [email protected].
• Riverside Chocolaterie retail location Company-owned retail chocolateshop at Riverside Market Lane, 84 Cashel Street, Christchurch, open daily 10am-5pm (phone 022 590 3350).
• Malthouse Chocolaterie retail location Company-owned retail chocolateshop at The Malthouse Cottage, 69 Colombo St, Beckenham, Christchurch (opposite South Library near Heathcote River), open daily 9am-4pm (phone 022 644 0177).
• Cacao POD retail location Company-owned retail chocolateshop located in Lyttelton, Christchurch, extending the brand's physical retail footprint across greater Christchurch.
• International Freight service Add-on service for adding international shipping costs to orders outside New Zealand, with arrangements handled via [email protected] using custom freight quotes and unique payment links.

Quantifiable outcome

• GOLD WINNER - New Zealand Chocolate Awards 2022 for Decadent Drinking Chocolate
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Vivace EspressominorOthersSupplier of finest organic coffee beans used in Chocolate Rolled Coffee Beans product. Coffee beans are rolled in organic chocolate to create the 'stay awake sweetly' confection.
• Ceres OrganicsminorOthersSupplier of organic crystallized ginger used in Chocolate Rolled Ginger product. Ginger is rolled in organic dark chocolate for the chocolate ginger confection.
• The Hazelnut CompanyminorOthersLocal Canterbury supplier of spray-free hazelnuts that are gently roasted and used in Hazel Heaven Baton and other hazelnut products.
• Fresh AsminorOthersSupplier of freeze-dried raspberry used in Open Me Bar for intense sharp/soft flavor. Premium freeze-dried fruit ingredient.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lindt: Global premium chocolate incumbent with strong presence in New Zealand retail. Represents the upper-tier premium benchmark She Universe competes against on quality positioning.
• Hotel Chocolat: UK-based premium chocolate brand with owned retail stores and experiential chocolate tastings. Comparable omnichannel model combining DTC, retail, and experiences at premium price points.
• Green & Black's: Organic and ethically-sourced premium chocolate brand. Comparable emphasis on organic credentials, ethical sourcing, and premium positioning, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• TCHO Chocolate: US bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker with single-origin sourcing focus. Comparable in bean-to-bar process, single-origin product lines, and B2B/B2C distribution mix.
• Koko Black: Australian premium bean-to-bar chocolatier with company-owned retail salons. Highly comparable in combining craft chocolate, owned retail locations, and experiential tastings.
• Whittaker's: New Zealand's largest and most iconic chocolate maker, also practicing bean-to-bar production. Most directly comparable competitor in the NZ market across retail, wholesale, and export channels.
• Devonport Chocolates: New Zealand premium craft chocolatier producing bean-to-bar chocolates and confectionery. Comparable in scale, positioning, and product range to She Universe within the NZ market.
• Mast Brothers: US pioneer of the bean-to-bar craft chocolate movement. Comparable in their emphasis on single-origin sourcing, small-batch production, and direct-to-consumer positioning.
• Booja-Booja: UK-based organic, vegan, dairy-free premium chocolatier. Highly comparable in vegan-friendly positioning, organic credentials, and premium handcrafted chocolate offerings.

Emerging players

• Endangered Species Chocolate: US premium chocolate brand emphasizing ethical sourcing and sustainability. Comparable in mission-driven positioning and premium retail distribution strategy.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/she-universe-chocolate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 She Universe