Major chocolate brands are increasing their exposure to consumers in efforts to strengthen brand awareness and loyalty.

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company recently reopened its flagship Chocolate Experience Store, located in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square. The space is designed to elevate the customer experience and provides new and exciting ways to celebrate the true craftmanship of chocolate making. Visitors can expect to be delighted by the delicate taste and aroma of fresh chocolate, warm waffle cones and hand-made hot fudge. 

“We are thrilled to unveil the Chocolate Experience Store to our community of chocolate lovers and hometown of San Francisco," said Justin Reese, vice president of retail and ecommerce at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. "Our premium chocolate, the historic architecture and the stunning views, have made Ghirardelli Square a favorite San Francisco destination. The interior re-design brings a new vibrant experience to the classic space."

The renovated space sits within the Pioneer Woolen Mill building which was built in 1864 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. As guests walk through the Chocolate Experience Store, they will have the unique opportunity to watch Ghirardelli chocolatiers hand crafting the brand's signature hot fudge from only three ingredients: pure Ghirardelli chocolate, milk, and vanilla. Guests can also personalize a tin of signature chocolate squares selected from the brand's largest Pick & Mix yet and enjoy a World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae in the store's Alcatraz room while taking in the unobstructed and breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay.

Other store offerings include fresh chocolate bars made with almonds and hazelnuts roasted in-house and pure Ghirardelli chocolate flowing from tempering taps, ice cream served in hand-made waffle cones and bowls, and hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries.

The redesigned Chocolate Experience Store perfectly blends modern design elements, like a custom inlay of the Ghirardelli golden eagle and tile work from SF-based company Heath Ceramics, with core elements of the historic structure, like the original red brick walls and timber beams. Also newly on display are hand painted murals and a collection of vintage Ghirardelli advertising dating back to the company's beginnings in the mid-nineteenth century. 

Sustainability

GoodSam Foods, a healthy snack food brand with a commitment to sustainability and regenerative agriculture, has started give-back initiatives including a new venture with partner Colombian chocolate manufacturer Luker Chocolate. The endeavor, Building Networks, is a program aimed at bringing together Colombian youth and providing them with educational resources while teaching them how to use social media for good. 

GoodSam believes in three things: food that’s good for you, good for farmers, and good for the planet. In an effort to support farmer communities GoodSam has also committed to making meaningful upgrades to three schools in Colombia by the end of 2022. The schools, in areas around the country, cater to younger children in the community and the upgrades will help to teach them more about farming and the environment, as well as teach English and bolster digital versatility among students. 

“Everything we do at GoodSam is in the spirit of giving back to people and helping the community. Build Networks was created as a means to help create digital and educational equity in real communities where our farmers live and work,” says GoodSam chief executive officer Heather Terry. “Our mission has always been the growth of communities and helping them flourish. The deep relationships we foster with our farmers empower us to give back directly to communities and create farmer-driven initiatives with full visibility of where our resources are going. We are passionate about our work in continuing to decolonize the system and Building Networks is another step toward our end goal.”

To help close the digital divide in Colombia, GoodSam and Luker Chocolates created Building Networks. GoodSam will be running training sessions, helping to enable technical solutions in rural Colombian areas while connecting with the community. 

Participants in the program include local community kids and teenagers who will be strengthening their leadership, technology capabilities, and social skills. The program aims to empower youth in GoodSam farmer communities to become leaders and advocates for local development and growth. 

“Starting the Building Networks program with GoodSam has further cemented our joint partnership and alliance. The GoodSam team has an abundance of international experience in social network to leverage in order to help these rural communities,” said Julia Ocampo, director of sustainability, Luker Chocolate. “We are optimistic this partnership will help communities connect with the world, share their daily lives, promote entrepreneurship, and continue building our Chocolate Dream together.”