A LITTLE HISTORY:

Seattle Chocolate Company began in 1991, creating our signature meltaway truffles and truffle bars in the heart of the Pacific Northwest. When the original factory was destroyed by the Nisqually Earthquake in 2001, entrepreneur and mother Jean Thompson was an investor in the company. Never one to turn down a challenge, Jean stepped up as Owner + CEO of Seattle Chocolate in 2002, learning quickly along the way and creating a fresh new look for the chocolate category. She brought color, whimsy, and a keen eye for marketing to the Seattle Chocolate brand, making us who we are today!

In 2012, Jean created jcoco chocolate, a bold new chocolate brand under the Seattle Chocolate umbrella, with a focus on feeding hungry families at its core. Since then, with each jcoco purchase, we donate fresh servings of food to those in need through partnerships with food banks in Washington, California and New York. With your help, we’ve donated almost 4 million servings to date, and are well on our way to our big goal of 10 million!

Since jcoco chocolate was founded in 2012, we've been donating fresh servings of food to neighbors in need - all because of you. The Pink Umbrella Fund supports our food bank partners in Washington, California and New York, and we've now donated almost 4 million servings of food!

We are passionate about cacao and the people and communities who grow it. We use Rainforest Alliance Certified™ cocoa, which has a long term, robust, and sustainable approach to addressing unjust labor practices, preserving and protecting the environment, and bettering the economic situation of cocoa farmers and their families. Today we have 37 chocolate bars that bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ cocoa seal!

We also have a commitment to cutting down waste wherever possible, from composting our chocolate scraps and selling imperfect factory seconds to working to switch our entire truffle line over to compostable packaging. Learn more about the steps we’re taking towards sustainability here.

More about Seattle Chocolate:

Seattle Chocolate is known for the creamy meltaway center in our truffles and truffle bars. We do a lot of R&D (tough job, but someone’s gotta do it) and love to try new flavors and trends; but at the end of the day, everything we make needs to be delicious. We take pride in how our creamy truffle center sets us apart and makes for a mouth-watering bite, every single time.

With Seattle in our name, we can’t help but show our hometown pride. We gather inspiration from our beautiful backyard, and the Pacific Northwest shows up throughout our products, from flavors to ingredients to packaging. We use local ingredients whenever we can, and give a not-so-subtle nod to the PNW with flavors like San Juan Sea Salt, Pike Place Espresso, and Rainier Cherry.

From the beginning, Jean knew that looks matter when it comes to chocolate. We’re drawn to color and pattern in our packaging, and work to make sure that every product is gift-worthy - even if it’s just for you. We love to collaborate with independent artists to create bars & gifts that are just as gorgeous as they are delicious.

May chocolate be your umbrella.™

About jcoco chocolate:

Chocolate crafted as food. Giving back with every bar. Bold yet balanced flavors. And a healthy dose of color. When CEO Jean Thompson founded jcoco (pronounced jay-koko), the ultra-premium sister brand to Seattle Chocolate in 2012, her mission was twofold: elevate the way people experience chocolate and turn an everyday indulgence into an opportunity to make a difference. Today, jcoco is a cult-favorite among epicureans and has donated more than 3.5 million servings to organizations working to combat hunger.

At the heart of jcoco is its mission of giving back. Since its first bar sold, jcoco has donated a percentage of all sales to organizations providing meals to people in need. Follow #chocolatefightshunger to learn more.

High-quality cacao can transcend expectations of chocolate. We think of artisanal chocolate as its own food group, and we serve jcoco as dessert, in tasting flights and food and wine pairings, and alongside—or in place of—sweet and savory courses. Our signature 1oz. mini bars are just right for experiencing the bright, bold, complex, and nuanced flavors of jcoco. Some people break bread at the table; we believe in breaking chocolate.

More about our factory:

We firmly believe that chocolate should be fun, and are lucky enough to make all of our products right here in our hometown. That means that we brainstorm, do R&D, design the products, and bring them to life, all in the same place! In 2017, we wanted to share our story in a deeper way, so we opened our doors to the public, running chocolate factory tours daily. Since then, we've taken countless guests, age 6 to 100, on an in-depth walk through our factory! We even host a Haunted Factory Tour each Halloween, taking guests on a spooky after-hours scavenger hunt - with a chocolate prize, of course.

What should you expect from a tour?

Experience chocolate at the Seattle Chocolate factory and flagship store. Taste our signature, smooth chocolate recipes throughout your journey. Explore our chocolate-making machines and the start-to-finish creation of our truffles and bars from the vantage point of our hot pink walkway, raised nearly 10 feet high. Discover the history of chocolate, the untold stories of Seattle Chocolate Company, and learn how we invent new flavors. Plus, share some ideas of your own!

Jean Thompson is many things: mother, entrepreneur, and chocolate lover. A native New Englander, Jean graduated from Bates College before embarking on a career in high tech. Between software and chocolate, Jean was active raising two children in Bellevue, WA and devoting her free time to nonprofit work. After the Nisqually Earthquake in 2001 that left the Seattle Chocolate manufacturing facility in ruins, Jean stepped up as the owner and CEO, running the daily operations of the company.

With no experience in the chocolate industry, Jean was faced with a challenge. Her determination, willingness to learn and adapt, and curiosity fueled her as she worked daily to turn the company around. Now, Jean continues to run Seattle Chocolate while looking towards the future of chocolate. She is passionate about elevating the chocolate industry as a whole, improving the lives of cacao farmers, and empowering future entrepreneurs who may learn from her story.

Have a press inquiry, partnership, or speaking engagement for Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolate, and/or jcoco? Please fill out the form below!