What if the best chocolate you’ve ever had was never supposed to exist? That’s exactly the story behind Chocolate Cortés, a brand that has been satisfying sweet cravings for almost a century. What started as an unexpected twist of fate turned into a Caribbean chocolate empire.
The company was founded in 1929 when an entrepreneur, more interested in making rum than chocolate, accepted chocolate-making equipment as payment for a debt. Little did he know, that decision would change the course of his family’s legacy. “I guess he liked chocolate more than rum,” jokes his grandson, Ignacio Cortés, the fourth-generation CEO of the family-run business.
So how did an entrepreneur in the rum business accidentally create one of the world’s best chocolate brands? According to Cortés, the answer lies in a family’s passion, dedication, and a commitment to quality.
The Chocolate Cortés Empire Begins
Today Chocolate Cortés is a household name in its native Puerto Rico. It’s one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world, producing approximately 100 different chocolate products sold worldwide. “Our flagship product, Chocolate Cortés, a 7-ounce bar meant to be melted into portions and enjoyed as hot chocolate, has been produced since 1929,” Ignacio Cortés tells us. “It is the undisputed leader in this category.”
However, a century ago, the company’s founder didn’t know a thing about making chocolate. He was more interested in making and selling Caribbean rum. But, after acquiring the chocolate-making equipment, he decided to pivot entirely, leaving behind rum and his other business ventures to focus on crafting high-quality chocolate. What began as a necessity soon became his passion, and from that moment on, the company dedicated itself fully to mastering the art of chocolate-making.
Chocolate Cortés has flourished thanks to a formula that has never changed. Like KFC’s secret spices, Chocolate Cortés has its secret recipe. But we do know one thing: its main ingredient, cacao, has always come from the same source: the Dominican Republic. From hot chocolate to candy bars, each product has its own unique formula as well. As for the other long-time secret ingredients? Well, that would be passion and dedication, Cortés tells us.
The Chocolate Cortés Secret to Success
Ask Cortés what makes a great chocolate, and his answer is simple: passion and dedication. “We’re a four-generation family business,” he says. “Passion and dedication to what we do runs in our DNA. That connection is our secret to success.”
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This philosophy is evident from their delicious products to their approach to business. Chocolate Cortés has never stopped investing in its growth, continuously developing new products and exploring new markets. “Exporting to the U.S., the Caribbean, and Europe is critical for us,” Ignacio explains. “We have a top-tier distribution network, and adding leading third-party brands to our portfolio is a key strategy moving forward.”
Beyond the Bar: The Rise of ChocoBar
One of the company’s most exciting ventures is its expansion into the culinary world. The brand’s ChocoBar concept, cafés dedicated to showcasing chocolate in all its forms, has already found success in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. These spots are coffee shops that blend history, artistry, and, of course, plenty of chocolate.
As Cortés looks to the future, he says that the next chapter of Chocolate Cortés will be written by the next generation. “I’m still in the business, but I’m passing the baton to my children,” he says. “It’s up to them to find new paths while preserving our legacy.”
Part of that legacy includes giving back to his community. “Now the company has established a nonprofit, Fundación Cortés, in 2012 that supports and provides arts education to school children,” the Chocolate Professor blog writes.
Giving back to Puerto Rico and the World
Cortés says he founded the nonprofit with his wife to bring arts to his community, introducing their art collection to the public for the first time. According to the Fundación Cortés’ website, it’s a place where visitors can “disseminate and promote the appreciation and study of the arts and humanities.” To date, its “impacted nearly 14,000 children, youth and older adults” with its educational programs and has had over 85,000 registered visits to its exhibitions of art from around the world.
So, next time you’re in San Juan, consider enriching your day with a hot chocolate at a Cortés ChocoBar and enjoying a day at the Fundación Casa Cortés. Not in Puerto Rico? No problem. Look for Chocolate Cortés at your local grocery story, or shop online. As any chocolate lover will attest, the Carribean’s favorite chocolate brand never disappoints.
