Askinosie Chocolate began with a bold leap of faith. Founder Shawn Askinosie left behind a successful law career to pursue a calling he couldn’t ignore: making chocolate from scratch—and making it matter. With his life savings and a relentless curiosity, he set out to learn the craft of bean-to-bar chocolate, becoming one of the pioneers of the American craft chocolate movement.
From the beginning, Askinosie did things differently. He traveled to remote cocoa-growing regions in Ecuador, Tanzania, the Philippines, and beyond, building direct, transparent relationships with smallholder farmers and sharing profits with the communities who grow the beans. His daughter, Lawren Askinosie, soon joined him, helping shape the company’s mission with a special focus on empowering women cocoa farmers and supporting education for girls in their communities.
Today, every bar of Askinosie Chocolate is made by hand in small batches at their micro-factory in Springfield, Missouri. The chocolate has earned national acclaim and awards, but the heart of the company remains unchanged: deep respect for farmers, meticulous craftsmanship, and a belief that delicious chocolate can be a force for good.
It’s chocolate with a story—one rooted in risk, relationships, and doing business the right way.
