About Us
Who We Are
At ChocoSol, we craft small-batch, bean-to-bar dark chocolate using direct-trade cacao and traditional methods. More than just chocolate makers, we are a social enterprise dedicated to ethical sourcing, ecological sustainability, and community collaboration. Every bite of our chocolate is a taste of tradition, innovation, and a commitment to better food systems.
Our Origins
ChocoSol was founded in 2004 in Oaxaca, Mexico, by Michael Sacco, whose research in sustainable food systems led him to study chocolate-making with a Zapotec grandmother.
Rather than seeing chocolate as just a product, Michael envisioned it as a vehicle for sustainability, community, and learning. In Oaxaca’s markets, he sold the first batch of what would become ChocoSol chocolate—hand-roasted by the sun, hand-peeled, and stone-ground with simple tools. His partner, Jessica, named it “ChocoSol,” a word that represents the sun (sol in Spanish), the earth (sol in French), and the soul of the project (sol in English). Inspired by the cultural and ecological depth of cacao, Michael brought ChocoSol to Toronto in 2006, where we continue to honour these traditions through our stone-ground chocolate.
Early on, Mathieu McFadden, now co-owner and Chief Wholesale Animator, joined ChocoSol after discovering our work at a Toronto farmers’ market. Passionate about nutrition, sustainability, and community building, Mathieu has helped shape ChocoSol’s growth, from leading wholesale sales to pedalling thousands of pounds of chocolate across the city on his famous bike trailer.
Our Vision
We believe in a future where food is more than a commodity—it’s a force for good. Our vision is a people-centred, socially just, and ecological food system that respects both the earth and the communities who nourish it.
Our Mission is Threefold
- To craft revolutionary chocolate that is good for mind, body, and soil.
- To lead and inspire- while learning from and alongside- the craft chocolate industry to continually improve its practices, values, and standards.
- To work in partnership, collaboration, and co-operation with indigenous communities across the Americas to support community-focused ecological regeneration.
Community & Conviviality
ChocoSol is more than just a chocolate company—it is a community space for conviviality, learning, and shared experiences. From the beginning, we have believed that chocolate should be enjoyed not just as a product, but as a cultural and social experience. Our space in Toronto has always been a hub for workshops, tastings, and events that bring people together over food, conversation, and collaboration. Whether it’s a Chocolatada (a traditional chocolate gathering), a hands-on chocolate-making workshop, or a simple moment of sharing a drinking chocolate, we create opportunities for people to connect with each other and with the stories behind their food. Inspired by the traditions of Oaxaca and beyond, we see chocolate as a bridge—between cultures, communities, and generations—fostering a spirit of hospitality, curiosity, and celebration.