Sustainable chocolate brand Love Cocoa unwraps €4.8 million to push forward chocolate innovation | EU-Startups
Sustainable chocolate brand, Love Cocoa, has just unwrapped €4.8 million to develop the next generation of chocolate innovation driven by ethical values. The London-based company was founded by the great-great-great grandson of the iconic Mr Cadbury and is now ready to expand.
Chocolate – the treat that delights around the world. However, the chocolate industry itself has garnered a less-than-delightful reputation in some regards, namely with regard to sustainability (or lack thereof).
Love Cocoa launched in 2016 to change this and has since become a chocolate brand known for its sustainable and ethical values – for people and the environment. Founded by James Cadbury, the descendant of one of the pioneers of the chocolate industry, the startup has just secured new funding to innovate the next generation of the chocolate business.
Funding details
James Cadbury: “I’m delighted to have Richard and his team’s backing. I’m excited to be working with him on driving the strategic development of both Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate, helping propel them from challenger brands to chocolate industry powerhouses.”
Richard Koch: “Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate is at the forefront of sustainable chocolate innovation. I’m looking forward to supporting the business on the next stage of its incredible journey.”
Based in London, Love Cocoa began life in 2016 as the UK’s first letterbox-friendly chocolate service. It’s now developed into both the luxury chocolate brand, Love Cocoa, and plant-based oat milk chocolate, H!P Chocolate (launched 2021). With ethical values at the heart of the business, both brands are known for championing sustainably sourced, slave-free cocoa and plastic-free packaging alongside commitments to combating deforestation and climate change.
The startup also launched its ‘Plant A Tree’ pledge in 2020, planting a tree for every product purchased. To date, the brand has planted over 1.5 million trees across North Africa and East Kenya.
With this new investment, the startup wants to continue developing a new generation for the chocolate industry – one that prioritizes sustainability and ethical values. The funding will be directed towards opening up brick-and-mortar stores under the Love Cocoa brands, meaning the product will be accessible to consumers beyond existing partnerships with retailers. It’ll also be used to further distribute the vegan chocolate offering, and grow the team.
James Cadbury: “We’re excited to be going into physical retail later this year, launching our first Love Cocoa store. Retail is moving to an omnichannel approach, and we see the opportunity to innovate with our new stores offering unique, experiential moments. Alongside that, consumers are wanting to come back to the high street and that gives us the opportunity to deliver sensory chocolate experiences that simply can’t be achieved shopping online. We see this as a real game changer for the business and can’t wait to open our first store.”