Laughing Gull Chocolates

What Laughing Gull Chocolates does

Laughing Gull Chocolates is a women-owned artisan chocolate manufacturer and experiential retailer headquartered in Rochester, New York. Founded in 2016 by Lindsay Tarnoff with the brick-and-mortar shop opening in February 2018, the company operates as a privately held business owned by three women (Lindsay Tarnoff, Karla Carey, and Allison) with Rebecca Silliman serving as Production Manager and Assistant Manager. The core product line comprises handcrafted truffles, chocolate bars, bark varieties, bulk baking chocolate (cocoa powder, dark and milk couverture, white chocolate), and ancillary items such as salted caramel sauce made with local cream from Pittsford Dairy Farms. Every cacao bean is sourced transparently direct from farmer to cacao exporter, and the company holds B Corp certification (2023) and Women Owned Business certification (2022).

The business differentiates on human expertise rather than automation. Its chocolatiers are trained Certified Chocolate Analysts through the Chocolate Alliance, each with over 100 hours of professional tasting, rating, describing, and judging experience. Through a partnership with Tomric Systems in Buffalo, NY, Laughing Gull produces custom chocolate molds for corporate clients, with demonstrated work including branded business-card-size molds for the George Eastman Museum.

Revenue is generated across five channels: direct-to-consumer retail at the single Rochester storefront (Wed–Sat hours) plus e-commerce shipping to the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, and parts of Asia; subscription/membership via the Truffle Club; event-driven chocolate experiences (tastings from $17.99/person, workshops from $44.99/person, both virtual and in-person at the store, in-home, or at preferred venues); B2B corporate custom orders and wholesale; and a 'Chocolate that Gives Back' collection donating 2% or more of revenues to charitable partners including Planned Parenthood and The Trevor Project. Customer segments span individual gift buyers, corporate clients, private event hosts, wholesale buyers, and nonprofit partners, with no disclosed concentration in any single account.

Name

Laughing Gull Chocolates

Legal name

Laughing Gull Chocolates

Website

https://laughinggullchocolates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Laughing Gull Chocolates is a women-owned artisan chocolate manufacturer and experiential retailer based in Rochester, NY, selling handcrafted chocolates, custom corporate molds, virtual and in-person tastings, and subscription boxes using transparently sourced cacao.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Chocolate & Confectionery

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Confectionery and Nut Retailers (445292)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Chocolate & Confectionery Shops (THAFAGAD), Chocolate & Confectionery Patisseries (Bonbons, Truffles, Macarons) (THAFAFAL)

Keywords

• Handcrafted chocolate products
• Chocolate tasting experiences
• Custom chocolate molds
• Craft chocolate retail
• Corporate chocolate gifts

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Chocolate Products: Direct sales of chocolates including truffles, bars, bark, and specialty confections through brick-and-mortar store and e-commerce. One-time purchase transactions.
2. Chocolate Experiences: Revenue from hosting chocolate tastings, pairings, and workshops for individuals and groups. Both in-person and virtual formats available. Tastings from $17.99/person, workshops from $44.99/person.
3. Corporate Custom Orders: Custom branded chocolate gifts, favors, and corporate orders. Specialized custom molds created for specific events and organizations. B2B transaction model.
4. Subscription Memberships: Truffle Club membership and subscription boxes providing recurring curated chocolate deliveries. Quarterly or periodic shipments of specialty chocolates.
5. Wholesale: Wholesale chocolate products sold to other retailers and businesses through dedicated wholesale channel.
6. Donation Partnership Program: Products from 'Giving Through Chocolate' collection donate portions of proceeds to charitable partners including Planned Parenthood, The Trevor Project, and local Rochester organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Laughing Gull Chocolates manufactures and sells handcrafted chocolate products, including truffles, bars, bark, and bulk baking chocolates made from transparently sourced cacao. The company also sells curated subscription boxes (Truffle Club) and offers custom mold corporate gifts, plus immersive chocolate experiences such as tastings, pairings, and hands-on truffle-making, tempering, and bean-to-bar workshops delivered both virtually and in-person.

Product overview

Laughing Gull Chocolates is a women-owned craft chocolate shop in Rochester, NY offering a curated portfolio of handcrafted chocolates and immersive chocolate experiences. The core product line includes truffles, chocolate bars, bark varieties (including seasonal Pride collections), and bulk baking chocolates. The company specializes in custom corporate gifts and molds for events. Beyond retail products, they offer experiential services including virtual and in-person chocolate tastings, wine pairings, and hands-on workshops (Truffle Making, Tempering, and Bean to Bar). Subscription options include the Truffle Club monthly delivery. The Giving Through Chocolate collection donates portions of proceeds to charitable partners including Planned Parenthood and The Trevor Project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Truffles Handcrafted chocolate truffles made with transparently sourced cacao, available in various flavors including seasonal varieties for retail and gifting customers.
• Single-Origin and Specialty Chocolate Bars Single-origin and specialty chocolate bars crafted from ethically sourced cacao, including varieties like the I Love NY milk chocolate bar, sold through retail and e-commerce.
• Rainbow Pride Bark Dark chocolate bark topped with naturally colored white chocolate (strawberry, tangerine, matcha, butterfly pea flower, dragonfruit powders); $1.50 per bag donated to The Trevor Project. $7.99 retail.
• Mind Your Own Uterus Chocolate Uterus-shaped bar designed to support reproductive justice, available in dark and milk chocolate (1.2 oz, vegan), with proceeds donated to Planned Parenthood. $11.99.
• Bulk Cocoa Powder (Tanzania Single-Origin Organic) Ethically sourced single-origin organic cocoa powder from Tanzania, available in 6 oz and 1 lb sizes for home bakers and baking businesses. $8.99–$19.99.
• Bulk Dark Couverture Chocolate Ethically sourced dark couverture chocolate sold in bulk quantities for baking and pastry use. $8.99–$99.99.
• Bulk Milk Couverture Chocolate Ethically sourced milk couverture chocolate sold in bulk quantities for baking and pastry use. $8.99–$99.99.
• Bulk White Chocolate Ethically sourced white chocolate sold in bulk quantities for baking and pastry use. $8.99–$99.99.
• Salted Caramel Sauce Homemade salted caramel sauce made with local cream from Pittsford Dairy Farms, organic cane sugar, and Redmond salt. 7.1 oz jar. $15.99.
• 2024 Advent Calendar Holiday advent calendar featuring 24 days of unique chocolate confections for the Christmas season. Available for pre-order each fall.
• Single-Origin Truffle Flight Curated flight of truffles made with single-origin chocolate from Ecuador, Peru, Madagascar, and Uganda, letting customers taste terroir-driven flavor differences across cacao origins.
• Virtual Chocolate Tastings Live guided chocolate tasting experiences led by Certified Chocolate Analysts and Sommeliers via video conference. Themes include Around the World, Traveling through Time, and The Science of Chocolate. For corporate teams and remote groups.
• Virtual Chocolate Pairings Virtual pairing experiences that teach participants how to taste chocolate alongside wine, beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic alternatives, or cheese. From $17.99 per person.
• Virtual Truffle Making Workshop Hands-on virtual workshop covering chocolate history while participants make flavorful ganache and roll truffles. Ingredients shipped in advance; equipment list provided.
• Virtual Tempering Workshop Virtual workshop teaching participants to make shiny chocolate bark with perfect snap while discussing the science behind chocolate tempering.
• In-Person Chocolate Tastings Guided in-store chocolate tasting experiences led by Certified Chocolate Analysts with themes including Around the World, Traveling through Time, and The Science of Chocolate. Held at the Rochester shop or off-site venues.
• Chocolate and Wine Pairings In-person pairing experiences hosted at local wineries or other venues, teaching participants to taste chocolate with wine, beer, cocktails, or non-alcoholic alternatives.
• In-Person Truffle Making Workshop Hands-on in-person workshop where participants explore chocolate history while making ganache and rolling truffles. Available at the Rochester facility or at preferred venues. From $44.99 per person.
• In-Person Tempering Workshop In-person workshop teaching participants to make shiny chocolate bark with perfect snap while discussing the science of chocolate tempering.
• Bean to Bar Workshop In-person workshop that walks participants through how chocolate is made while they craft their own raw chocolate mass. Available for small groups in the Rochester facility.
• Private Event Tastings and Workshops Private in-store chocolate tastings and workshops for small groups at the North Winton Village shop, or facilitated in community spaces or private homes. Minimum 6 people or $150 minimum. For personal celebrations, bridal showers, birthdays, book clubs.
• Truffle Club / Subscription Boxes Monthly or periodic subscription delivering curated boxes of chocolates, including the Truffle Club membership and seasonal subscription boxes. Provides recurring curated chocolate experiences for individual consumers.
• Corporate Gifts and Custom Molds Custom chocolate molds and corporate gift services including personalized favors, custom flavors, and branded chocolate for corporate events. Includes production of custom molds through a partnership with Tomric Systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $4,000 donated to local Rochester organizations and over $1,000 to national organizations in 2022 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key, preferred, community, local supplier, creative and local.

• Tomric SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationCustom mold manufacturing partner based in Buffalo, NY. Creates specialized chocolate molds including business card size custom molds for corporate clients like George Eastman Museum. Enables unique product offerings and personalization capabilities.
• Rohrbach's Brewing CompanykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted 'The Eclipse Rocs the Public Market' event for April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse viewing. Collaborated on special beer creation with two other local brewers for the eclipse event.
• Rochester Eclipse Task ForcekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAppointed as Eclipse Ambassadors. Participated in task force planning for community eclipse viewing events including viewing party at The Public Market.
• The BrainerypreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred venue for off-site chocolate experiences. Located at 176 Anderson Ave f109, Rochester, NY 14607.
• Salena's Mexican RestaurantpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred venue for off-site chocolate tastings and events. Located at 302 N Goodman St, Rochester, NY 14607.
• Union TavernpreferredChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred venue for chocolate and wine pairing experiences. Located at 4565 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14622.
• Local WineriespreferredStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with several local wineries for chocolate and wine pairing experiences. Hosts events on site at wineries or at alternative venues.
• Moka OriginscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIngredient supplier whose purchases support planting 190 new trees in Cameroon. Partnership supports environmental impact initiatives.
• Impact Earth ROCcommunityOthersLocal Rochester compost organization. Laughing Gull contributed approximately 555 lbs of compost in 2022.
• Pittsford Dairy Farmslocal supplierOthersLocal cream supplier for Salted Caramel Sauce and other products. Supports local economy.
• Anna ParadecreativeGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal queer artist who created 'Made with PRIDE' sticker for Rainbow Pride Bark collaboration. Supports Pride collection marketing and brand storytelling.
• National Susan B. Anthony Museum & HousekeyGTM or Marketing PartnerMuseum carries I Love NY chocolate bars and Mind Your Own Uterus chocolates. Partnership rooted in shared values of social justice, intersectionality, and supporting women/LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
• George Eastman MuseumkeyGTM or Marketing PartnerCreated custom chocolate favors for Goldie Hawn's George Eastman Award celebration. Produced custom lemon meringue chocolate using business card molds in tribute to George Eastman's favorite pie.
• Unstrung StudioscreativeTechnology or IntegrationWoman owned business partner that helped design the uterus chocolate mold for Mind Your Own Uterus product supporting reproductive justice.
• Get CakedlocalOthersLocal business partner that created coconut macaroon recipe for chocolate dipped macaroons product line.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jacques Torres Chocolate: Craft chocolatier with a flagship retail location and strong wholesale/e-commerce presence. Comparable retail-plus-manufacturing model targeting gourmet gift and self-consumption occasions with a chocolate-maker-led brand.
• Éclat Chocolate: Philadelphia-based premium chocolatier led by a master chocolatier, offering bonbons, bars, and pastries. Comparable craft bonbon/truffle-forward product portfolio with similar artisanal, master-chocolatier-led positioning.
• Compartés Chocolatier: LA-based craft chocolatier with a flagship shop, signature bar/bark lines, and celebrity/brand collaborations. Comparable in combining a brick-and-mortar craft chocolate shop with strong e-commerce and custom/gift collaborations.
• Dandelion Chocolate: San Francisco craft bean-to-bar chocolatier with a flagship café, factory tours, and tastings. Comparable retail-plus-experiential model in craft single-origin chocolate with strong educational content.
• Askinosie Chocolate: Small-batch bean-to-bar maker with direct-trade sourcing from farmers and a strong social-mission orientation. Comparable focus on transparent sourcing, single-origin craft chocolate, and values-driven brand storytelling.
• Vosges Haut-Chocolat: Chicago-based woman-founded premium chocolatier offering truffles, bars, and experiential content with an emphasis on storytelling and global flavors. Most comparable to Laughing Gull in the combination of premium craft chocolate, mission-driven brand identity, and experiential extensions.
• Mast Brothers Chocolate: Pioneer craft bean-to-bar chocolatier with flagship stores and an emphasis on single-origin storytelling. Comparable retail-plus-ecommerce craft chocolate brand operating at small scale with strong provenance narrative.
• Raaka Chocolate: Brooklyn-based bean-to-bar chocolate maker emphasizing traceable sourcing and unroasted cacao. Comparable values-driven, transparent-sourcing positioning with a craft chocolate portfolio sold via e-commerce and wholesale.
• Taza Chocolate: Somerville, MA stone-ground craft chocolate maker with a strong direct-trade, minimal-ingredient positioning. Comparable small-batch craft chocolate brand with transparent sourcing and B Corp-adjacent values.

Broad incumbents

• Li-Lac Chocolates: Long-established NYC craft chocolatier with multiple retail locations, broad confectionery range, and wholesale presence. Comparable heritage-style chocolate shop model, though at meaningfully larger scale than Laughing Gull.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/laughinggullchocolates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laughing-gull-chocolates
• Instagraminstagram.com/laughinggullchocolates
• Pinterestpinterest.com/laughinggullchocolates

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Laughing Gull Chocolates