Our Story
Schoki Chocolate is a small bean to bar chocolate-making company that was started by Yoann Guidi and his wife Josi in 2020. They launched Schoki because of their love for high quality chocolate, and because of their passion for the protection of the environment as well as the well-being of the cacao farmers they choose to work with.
At Schoki, the most important aspects of a chocolate company are the following:
- Putting emphasis on traceability, sustainability and ethics.
- Buying cacao beans through co-operatives of farmers and trading partners.
- Paying a higher price for cacao beans to ensure the farmers are paid a fair wage and that the biodiversity of the environment is protected in the process.
- Carefully select the finest cacao and local ingredients to craft European style premium chocolate and flavours inspired by the Pacific Northwest.
"At Schoki Chocolate we are proud of our chocolate and we hope you enjoy eating it as much as we enjoy making it." — Yoann, cofounder and former CEO of Schoki Chocolate.
How it started
Yoann was born and raised in Switzerland, so chocolate was part of his upbringing. After visiting a chocolate factory when he was in his early 20s, he asked himself if he could turn a handful of cacao beans into a chocolate bar...
In 2019, he decided to dive in and learn about the process of making chocolate directly from the bean. he started to experiment with the magic of roasting cacao beans in his home kitchen, using equipment he had engineered himself. He had constructed a vacuum system that attached to a wooden box to crack the cacao beans and remove the shells. Then he used a small stone grinder to turn the cacao nibs into chocolate. These beans became his first couple of chocolate bars. Yoann constantly researched and tested the crafting process to enhance the beans’ flavour profiles, to create a chocolate bar where the taste transparently reflects the origin, turning himself into a high-end Chocolate Sommelier.
After more than a year making small batches for friends and family in my garage, he turned his chocolate-making hobby into a business that reflected on his childhood, his vision, and values.
Schoki Chocolate was born.
Why the name Schoki
Schoki was named in loving memory of Yoann's Swiss German grandmother. Every time he visited his grandparents, she would ask if he wanted a “Schoki”: a small piece of chocolate. To him, chocolate brings back great childhood memories in Switzerland, and also is part of creating new memories when gathering with friends and family.
2025 A change of Ownership and Location
For personal reasons, Yoann has decided to step away from Schoki chocolate entirely at the end of 2024. The production equipment, recipes and know-how have moved to Nelson BC in late February 2025, under the direction of Swiss Chocolatier Aurelien Sudan and his team at Nelson Chocolate Inc.
Schoki looks forward to keep serving you, with the same high upheld standards and passion that Yoann and Josi instigated.