What DAR Chocolate does

DAR Chocolate is a small-batch, bean-to-bar artisan chocolate maker founded in 2016 by Joel Dar and Gila Kaplan Dar, operating out of a factory and outlet store in Thornton, Colorado in the Denver-Boulder metro area. The company produces single-origin and flavored chocolate bars (Tanzania 72%, Vietnam 72%, Dominican Republic 72%, Colombia 85%/95%, plus flavored variants like Hibiscus, Wild Orange, Coconut Milk, Salted Caramel Coffee, Lemongrass Ginger, Crunchy Jalapeno, Crunchy Serrano, and Raspberry), sugar-free bars using erythritol and monk fruit, truffle bars, European-style drinking chocolate, and a Dubai-style chocolate line. Its core point of differentiation is the rotating art exhibition on each bar's packaging, featuring a curated set of 20+ artists whose work is also made available as museum-grade prints via the Golden Ticket promotion. The site is built on Wix without any native apps or APIs.

The business operates across at least three GTM motions: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via darchocolate.art with free shipping over $75 and climate-controlled summer shipping; a Thornton, CO factory outlet and Boutique Kitchen Community Store co-located with other local makers; and B2B wholesale through Faire, PodFoods, and Mable, plus retail placement at Whole Foods and Marczyk's Fine Foods. Bespoke Customized Art Bars are produced for institutions including The New Mexico Museum of Art and The International Folk Art Museum, and specific bars donate portions of revenue to nonprofits such as Art From Ashes, Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, and Maui Whales & Ocean Tales. The company has 1-10 employees, is privately held and founder-owned, and has no disclosed outside funding or revenue.

Name

DAR Chocolate

Legal name

DAR Chocolate

Website

https://darchocolate.art

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

DAR Chocolate is a Thornton, Colorado-based artisan bean-to-bar chocolate maker founded in 2016, producing single-origin, flavored, sugar-free, and Dubai-style chocolate bars whose packaging features rotating artwork from 20+ collaborating artists, sold via DTC e-commerce, a factory outlet, wholesale platforms, and museum gift shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Premium Artisan Chocolate Manufacturing

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans (311351)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM), Chocolate & Confectionery Patisseries (Bonbons, Truffles, Macarons) (THAFAFAL), Chocolate & Confectionery Shops (THAFAGAD)

Keywords

• Bean-to-bar chocolate
• Artisan chocolate bars
• Single-origin chocolate
• Craft chocolate manufacturing
• Premium chocolate confections

Headquarters

HQ city

Thornton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Chocolate Product Sales: One-time purchase sales of Art Bars ($9.90-$10.90), Truffle Bars ($5.99), Dubai Chocolate ($12.00), Drinking Chocolate ($18.00), and gift cards ($25-$200) through e-commerce and factory outlet.
2. Wholesale B2B: Bulk orders to retailers through Faire, PodFoods, and Mable platforms, as well as direct wholesale inquiries for stocking in stores.
3. Customized Art Bar Partnerships: Customized Art Bars created for museums, cultural institutions, and organizations. Featured partners include The New Mexico Museum of Art and The International Folk Art Museum.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DAR Chocolate is an artisan bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer that produces premium chocolate bars wrapped in rotating original artwork from featured artists. Its product line includes single-origin, flavored, sugar-free, truffle, and Dubai-style chocolate bars, drinking chocolate, gift cards, and bespoke Customized Art Bars produced for museums, cultural institutions, and events.

Product overview

DAR Chocolate is an artisan craft chocolate company that produces "Art Bars" - a line of premium chocolate bars where each wrapper features rotating artwork from various collaborating artists. The product portfolio includes single-origin dark chocolate bars (Tanzania 72%, Vietnam 72%, Dominican Republic 72%, Colombia 85%/95%), flavored bars (Dark Coffee 90%, Hibiscus 72%, Wild Orange 72%, Coconut Milk 68%, Salted Caramel Coffee 60%, Lemongrass Ginger 70%, Crunchy Jalapeno 72%, Crunchy Serrano 55%, Raspberry 72%), seasonal offerings (Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon & Cloves), sugar-free varieties (milk and dark with nuts), specialty Dubai chocolate bars, drinking chocolate, and truffle bars. The company differentiates through its artist partnership model where each chocolate bar features unique art on packaging, and offers customized bars for wholesale clients. Additional offerings include gift cards and the Golden Ticket program for museum-grade print giveaways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAR Art Bars (Single Origin) Premium bean-to-bar chocolate bars made from single-origin cacao, wrapped in rotating original artwork from a featured artist that functions as a museum-grade collectible print. Targeted at individual chocolate enthusiasts and gift buyers.
• Sugar Free Chocolate Bars Artisan bean-to-bar chocolate bars formulated without sugar, wrapped in rotating artist artwork, for diet-conscious consumers seeking premium, low-sugar chocolate.
• Flavored Chocolate Bars Premium bean-to-bar chocolate bars in flavored varieties, wrapped in rotating featured artist artwork, designed for consumers who want flavored chocolate beyond pure single-origin bars.
• Truffle Bars Artisan truffle-style chocolate bars made through the bean-to-bar process, wrapped in rotating artist artwork, for consumers seeking indulgent, truffle-flavored premium chocolate.
• Dubai Chocolate Premium Dubai-style chocolate bars inspired by Middle Eastern chocolate trends, produced in the bean-to-bar tradition and wrapped in rotating featured artist artwork. Targeted at trend-conscious consumers seeking novel premium chocolate experiences.
• Drinking Chocolate Artisan drinking chocolate made from the bean-to-bar process, intended for consumers seeking premium hot chocolate to prepare at home.
• Gift Cards / eGift Cards Physical and digital gift cards redeemable for DAR Chocolate products on the website, available in preset denominations, for gift-givers who want to give recipients the choice of artisan chocolate.
• Customized Art Bars Bespoke chocolate bars produced for museums, cultural institutions, and event organizers, wrapped in custom artwork or institution-themed designs. Targeted at institutional gift shops, exhibitions, and event gifting programs seeking unique, story-driven chocolate.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free museum-grade print with Golden Ticket win
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Meridian Cacao Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary cacao sourcing partner since the beginning of DAR Chocolate. Maintains high standards for sourcing with direct contact between Meridian and farmers. Cacao beans used in single origin bars.
• CholacacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado-based company supplying cacao liquor (100% cacao beans roasted and roughly ground at origin in Ecuador), certified organic and certified fair trade. Committed to THE 4 SEEDS OF REGENERATIVE CACAO.
• The New Mexico Museum of ArtflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustomized Art Bars featuring artworks from museum's collection including Agnes Pelton, Sheldon Parsons, Will Shuster, Gustave Baumann, Kate Krasin, Elliot Mkhize, and Marisa Fick-Jordaan Rousseau.
• The International Folk Art MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on custom Art Bars for museum gift shops featuring folk art from their collection.
• Yellow Dog PrintingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Colorado printing company used for packaging and marketing materials.
• Conscious CoffeesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoulder, CO-based coffee supplier. Coffee beans used in Dark Coffee and Salted Caramel Coffee bars.
• Murray River SaltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian salt supplier. Salt used in Salted Caramel Coffee bars and other products.
• Don Chilio'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupplier of crisped Serrano and Jalapeno chiles used in Crunchy Serrano and Crunchy Jalapeno bars.
• Art From AshesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit empowering struggling youth through creative programs. DAR Chocolate donates 10% of revenue from Pat Milbery Art Bars.
• Progressive Alliance for NonviolenceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBoulder, CO nonprofit. Raspberry 72% Art Bar by Marie Guingona created to benefit the organization.
• Maui Whales & Ocean TalesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerEmily McCulliss project documenting humpback whale migration. Colombia 85% Art Bar donation bar supports documentation days and marine conservation.
• FairecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB2B wholesale marketplace enabling retailers to discover and order DAR Chocolate products.
• PodFoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale platform for boutique and specialty food retailers to stock DAR Chocolate.
• MablecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale ordering platform connecting DAR Chocolate with retail buyers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Compartés Chocolate: Los Angeles-based artisan chocolate maker known for bold, art-covered packaging and creative flavor combinations sold D2C and through high-end retailers. Closely comparable in the 'art-meets-chocolate' packaging positioning and premium gifting appeal.
• Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Chicago-based premium artisan chocolate maker combining cacao with unusual ingredients (spices, flowers, bacon) and design-led packaging. Comparable in positioning premium experiential chocolate with story-driven packaging and D2C-plus-retail distribution.
• Mast Chocolate: Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker producing single-origin bars with minimalist, design-forward packaging (formerly Mast Brothers). Comparable as a premium, design-led bean-to-bar brand competing for the same high-end D2C and specialty retail buyer.
• Raaka Chocolate: Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker focused on unroasted (green) cacao and organic, direct-trade sourcing with distinctive flavor-forward bars. Comparable in scale, D2C + specialty wholesale distribution, and emphasis on transparent sourcing narrative.
• Taza Chocolate: Somerville, MA-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker known for stone-ground, minimally processed chocolate with organic and fair-trade sourcing. Closely comparable in scale, craft positioning, D2C + wholesale distribution model, and emphasis on direct-trade sourcing.
• Fruition Chocolate Works: Catskills, NY-based small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate maker producing single-origin and flavored bars with direct-trade sourcing. Directly comparable as a craft, founder-driven, single-origin producer selling D2C and through specialty wholesalers.
• Askinosie Chocolate: Springfield, MO-based small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate maker focused on single-origin, direct-trade chocolate from farmers they know personally. Directly comparable as a craft, founder-run, single-origin producer with a strong ethical-sourcing story and D2C-plus-wholesale model.
• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco-based bean-to-bar craft chocolate maker producing single-origin bars from carefully sourced cacao. Directly comparable as a small-batch, direct-trade, single-origin bean-to-bar producer with flagship retail cafés — competing for the same premium craft chocolate buyer.
• Lake Champlain Chocolates: Vermont-based craft chocolate maker producing premium bars, truffles, and specialty confections sold through D2C, wholesale, and their own cafés. Comparable as a craft bean-to-bar and confectionery producer with similar national wholesale and gifting distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Ghirardelli Chocolate Company: Major premium chocolate brand owned by Lindt & Sprüngli, offering premium squares, bars, and baking chocolate with broad retail distribution. Comparable as a chocolate manufacturer operating at much larger scale in the same premium bar/square category DAR occupies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dar-chocolate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 DAR Chocolate