The Ah Cacao dream began in 2002 with a visit to a cacao farm and the realization that very few chocolate lovers really know what chocolate it is and where it comes from. What if there was chocolate brand that shared the whole story? That chocolate is made from cacao, a plant. That cacao is good for you and the environment. That cacao has been cultivated with love by people in Mexico for at least 3,000 years and was highly valued by pre-hispanic cultures (even being used as money!).
The dream became reality 2004 when Ah Cacao was formally founded to joy up life with naturally delicious chocolate and coffee, direct from family-run farms. The farmers you support when you enjoy chocolate and coffee from Ah Cacao, work to preserve the natural environment, helping us reduce our impact on the planet. Ah Cacao's products are produced in a small solar-powered factory in Playa del Carmen, México, and can be purchased online, at Ah Cacao Chocolate Café stores, and many of the best stores in Mexico.
Our purpose
We joy up life, sharing delicious natural experiences that are kind to the planet, because we believe in a happier, healthier world.
THE AH CACAO TIMELINE
First Product, First Ah Cacao Chocolate Café
Ah Cacao's first product was a beautiful box of chocolates with a Maya theme and a pamphlet which shared the story of chocolate. Unfortunately we couldn't persuade any stores to buy it.
Annoyed at being unable to sell our first product through other stores, we decided the only solution was to open our own store and so with a deep breath we signed our first lease on a commercial space in Playa del Carmen and set about trying to build Ah Cacao Chocolate Café concept.
Ah Cacao in Xcaret and Xel-HÁ parks
The stores in Xcaret and Xel-há parks were the first to carry Ah Cacao chocolate bars, outside our own store.
Second and third stores
After a few tough years of learning how hard it is to operate a coffee shop, we felt ready to expand and opened two more stores (another in Playa del Carmen and one in Cancún)... just before the 2008 financial crisis!
Socially responsable company award
With support from Xcaret, Ah Cacao is recognized as a "Socially responsable company" for our nature conservation efforts.
A new factory and store number four
After a few more tough years learning how hard it is to operate multiple stores we felt ready to grow again and built a much larger factory (though still quite small) to produce our chocolates and desserts. The factory was built to be eco-friendly with 99 solar panels to cover it's electricity needs and natural ventilation instead of air conditioning in most of the building.
We also opened our largest store to date, in Playa del Carmen.
Exporting to the United States
Thanks to a chance encounter with an executive from Natural Grocer's in the United States Ah Cacao begins exporting "no added sugar" cacao bars to 120 stores in the U.S.
Ah Cacao in H.E.B. and Soriana supermarkets
Ah Cacao chocolate bars are available in H.E.B. and Soriana supermarkets.
Store number five
Our prettieststore to date opens on 5th Avenue in Playa del Carmen, incorporating everything we've learned over the years with the hope of it becoming the model store for many more both in Mexico and abroad.
Surviving Covid-19 and two hurricanes
Ah Cacao was deeply impacted by Covid-19 (and two hurricanes!) as the streets emptied and most of our income came from guests visiting our stores. Thanks to the resiliance of our great team, the loyalty of our customers, online sales, and the support of our creditors, we have been able to pull through the worst of the pandemic.
Online growth
Adjusting to the pandemic, the Ah Cacao website is rebuilt to share much more of the story and love behind Ah Cacao's products and make buying online even easier, so that many more chocolate and coffee lovers like you can experience the joy of natural treats direct from the farm.
Availability in more than 80 cities
Ah Cacao's chocolate becomes available in over 80 Mexican cities with distribution with the addition of more partner stores such as Chedraui Selecto, Al Súper and many more.