Sustainable chocolate brand Love Cocoa unwraps €4.8 million to push forward chocolate innovation
Love Cocoa, the sustainable chocolate brand founded by James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the renowned Mr Cadbury, has successfully secured a significant €4.8 million investment. This infusion of funds is earmarked for advancing the next era of chocolate innovation while steadfastly adhering to ethical values. Based in London, Love Cocoa is now poised for strategic expansion.
Chocolate – a universal delight with a nuanced reputation within the industry, particularly in terms of sustainability. Love Cocoa emerged in 2016 with a mission to transform this perception, establishing itself as a chocolate brand synonymous with ethical and sustainable values, both for consumers and the environment. James Cadbury, a descendant of chocolate industry pioneers, leads the charge in propelling the startup towards groundbreaking advancements in the chocolate business.
Funding Details
- Approximately €4.8 million (£4.25 million) secured in new investment.
- The funding spearheaded by Richard Koch, an accomplished entrepreneur behind Grind, Plymouth Gin, and Betfair.
- Allocations include expanding the senior management team, inaugurating the inaugural brick-and-mortar retail store, and enhancing retail distribution channels.
James Cadbury expresses his enthusiasm, stating, “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 echoes this sentiment, asserting, “Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate are at the forefront of sustainable chocolate innovation. I’m looking forward to supporting the business on the next stage of its incredible journey.”
Founded in 2016 as the UK’s pioneer letterbox-friendly chocolate service, Love Cocoa has evolved into two distinct brands: the luxury chocolate brand, Love Cocoa, and the plant-based oat milk chocolate, H!P Chocolate, introduced in 2021. With a commitment to ethical values at its core, both brands champion sustainably sourced, slave-free cocoa, and plastic-free packaging, in addition to actively combating deforestation and climate change.
The startup initiated its ‘Plant A Tree’ pledge in 2020, contributing to the planting of over 1.5 million trees across North Africa and East Kenya. The latest infusion of capital aims to propel the development of a new generation within the chocolate industry, emphasizing sustainability and ethical values. The funds will be directed towards establishing brick-and-mortar Love Cocoa stores, expanding accessibility beyond existing retail partnerships, and further distributing the vegan chocolate offering. Additionally, the investment will fuel team growth.
James Cadbury shares, “We’re excited to be going into physical retail later this year, launching our first Love Cocoa store. Retail is evolving towards an omnichannel approach, and we see the opportunity to innovate with our new stores, offering unique experiential moments. This marks a significant shift for the business, presenting a game-changing opportunity as consumers express a desire to return to the high street for sensory chocolate experiences that cannot be replicated online.”
