TCHO facts for kids
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Timothy Childs & Karl Bittong |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California, US |
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Key people
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| Products | Chocolate Bars, Couverture Chocolate, Cacao Nibs, Plant Based Chocolate |
TCHO is a chocolate company from Berkeley, California. It is known for working closely with farmers who grow cacao beans, which are the main ingredient in chocolate. TCHO helps these farmers improve how they grow, ferment, and dry the beans to make the best possible chocolate.
The company's factory was once on Pier 17 in San Francisco, but it is now in Berkeley. In 2018, TCHO was purchased by a Japanese candy company called Ezaki Glico.
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The TCHO Story
TCHO was started in 2005 by two people: Timothy Childs and Karl Bittong. Timothy Childs had an interesting background. He once worked on vision systems for NASA's Space Shuttle! Karl Bittong had been working in the chocolate business for over 40 years.
From a Historic Pier to a New Home
In 2006, TCHO set up its factory on Pier 17 in San Francisco. This was a special location because the pier was built in 1912 and was a historic place for trade, including bringing cacao beans into the city. The factory used a mix of old German machines and new equipment to make its chocolate. In 2014, TCHO moved its factory and offices to Berkeley.
Award-Winning Design
TCHO worked with a famous designer named Erik Spiekermann to create its look and branding. The design of its chocolate bar wrappers has won many awards. These include a Gold Award from the Academy of Chocolate and a European Design Gold Award in 2009.
What Does TCHO Make?
TCHO creates a variety of chocolate products. They are famous for their dark chocolate bars, which are often made from beans from a single place (called single-origin). They also make:
- Plant-based chocolate bars
- Hot chocolate mix
- Cocoa powder for baking
- Roasted cacao nibs (small pieces of crushed cacao beans)
- Chocolate for professional bakers and candy makers
TCHO sells its products in stores across the United States and also offers them in large amounts for businesses.
Working with Farmers
TCHO has a special program called TCHO Source. Through this program, the company works directly with cacao farmers. They share technology and knowledge to help the farmers grow the best beans.
TCHO has even set up "Flavor Labs" in farming communities around the world. These labs help farmers test their beans and understand how to create specific flavors. This helps the farmers earn more money and helps TCHO get high-quality beans for its chocolate.
See also
