TCHO
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Chocolate manufacturing |
| Founded | December 2005 |
| Founder | Timothy Childs, Karl Bittong |
| Headquarters | Berkeley, California , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Timothy Childs, Karl Bittong |
| Products | Single-origin dark chocolate bars, plant-based bars, drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, roasted cacao nibs, baking chocolate |
| Parent | Ezaki Glico |
TCHO is a chocolate manufacturer headquartered in Berkeley, California, USA, dedicated to collaborating with cacao growers and cooperatives to advance cultivation, fermentation, and drying methods. Originally situated at Pier 17 within San Francisco’s historic waterfront area, the company later shifted its factory and main office to West Berkeley. In February 2018, TCHO became part of the Japanese confectionery firm Ezaki Glico through acquisition.
History
In December 2005, Timothy Childs—an entrepreneur with a background in technology and chocolate who previously developed vision systems for NASA's Space Shuttle program—and Karl Bittong, a seasoned professional with over four decades in the chocolate sector, co-established TCHO.
The following year, TCHO set up operations at Pier 17, a pier dating back to 1912 that played a significant role in the historic cacao bean trade in San Francisco. The facility integrated antique German equipment alongside contemporary refiners and grinders. By April 2014, the company had transitioned its production facilities to Berkeley, California.
For its branding efforts, TCHO partnered with designer Erik Spiekermann of Edenspiekermann. The brand’s packaging has earned several accolades, including the Academy of Chocolate Gold Award (2009), European Design Gold Award (2009), and iF Communication Design Award (2009), as well as nominations for the Cannes Design Lions (2009) and German Federal Design Award (2011).
Products
TCHO offers a range of products including two varieties of single-origin dark chocolate bars, plant-based bars, drinking chocolate, cocoa powder, roasted cacao nibs, and baking chocolate. Its primary distribution is through retail outlets across the United States, alongside wholesale and bulk supplies tailored for chocolatiers and manufacturers.
TCHO Source
Through the TCHO Source Program, the company invests directly in cacao producers by sharing technology and expertise via an 'open source' approach. "Flavor Labs" have been established at cooperative locations globally to assist farmers in enhancing the quality of their products.