Zotter Chocolate has been a family owned and operated business since its founding in 1987. We have an unparalleled commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service that we have maintained since our first chocolate shop was opened. Take a look through our rich and vibrant history to learn more about our commitment to organic, fair trade, and sustainability.
A Member of the World Fair Trade Organization
The World Fair Trade Organization is a global community committed to verify organizations that comply with fair trade guidelines. As a member of the WFTO, we have proven our compliance and commitment to their 10 principles of fair trade, which include transparency and accountability, fair trade practices, fair payment, no child or forced labor, no discrimination, good working conditions, capacity building, promotion of fair trade ethics, and sustainability practices. We go above and beyond in our commitment to these principles, as we pay a much higher world market price and guarantee the highest quality of raw materials because we buy directly from our suppliers. We also maintain full traceability from source to products. We buy directly from cocoa farmers, allowing them to maintain independence from the global market and focus entirely on high-quality cocoa production.
Our Bean-to-Bar Production
We produce all Zotter chocolates in our production facilities using a bean-to-bar process. Once we cultivate the beans from our cocoa farmers, we carry out all further production processes in-house. This includes roasting the cocoa beans, grinding them in the conche, blending the ingredients, and hand-crafting the chocolates. Each cocoa bean is inspected as part of our rigorous quality control process, and further inspections and testing continues throughout the production process.
Our Commitment to Organic Ingredients & Cultivation
Our vegan and dairy-free chocolates sold in the United States are organic. We go beyond just using organic ingredients, and are fully committed to organic cultivation as well. We never use preservatives, artificial flavors, or other unnatural or unnecessary ingredients.
Sustainability and Green Business Practices
We have developed and maintained a commitment to sustainability and green business practices throughout the decades we have been in business. We are proud to be one of the most sustainable companies in Austria. Our “Think Green” concept is continuously evolving and progressing to ensure we meet changing standards. We comply with external environmental experts who help us maintain our exemplary environmental practices.
If you want to support a company with a strong commitment to fair traded chocolate, green business practices, organic ingredients, and sustainability, visit our online store at Zotter Chocolates. We carry a wide range of classic and vegan handcrafted chocolates, as well as our own invention: the hand-scooped chocolate. When you purchase one of our Discovery Packs, you can sample a selection of our quality chocolate products.