The Vanguard of the Bean-to-Bar Movement
The resurgence of Philippine cacao is being propelled by a new generation of brands that are as adept at storytelling as they are at chocolate-making. At the forefront is Malagos Chocolate, a pioneer that has long been synonymous with Davao’s premium single-origin identity. Crafted from tree-to-bar in the foothills of Mount Talomo, Malagos has built an international reputation for its complex dark chocolates, with single-origin bars ranging from 65% to 85% cacao. The brand’s vision is nothing short of ambitious: to make Davao one of the preferred sources of premium chocolates in the world. This is not just about selling a product; it is about establishing a geographic brand that signals quality and provenance to global consumers.
The Art of the Partnership: Beyond the Chocolate Bar
While Malagos represents the established vanguard, a new wave of brands is innovating in how they bring Davao cacao to the market. Cacao de Davao, led by CEO Ethan Kyle Lim, is a masterclass in multi-sector collaboration. The brand has forged a series of strategic partnerships with local restaurants—such as Ikao, Lamano, and Muni—to infuse Davao-sourced chocolate into curated dishes and drinks, from Chocolate Cheesecake Frappe to Turon de Cacao. The logic is direct: “Because of these culinary collaborations, we will be able to help many farmers because of the volume that our partners will be ordering from us,” Lim explains. This strategy does more than create novel menu items; it builds consistent, high-volume demand that flows directly back to the farm gate.
Navigating New Markets and Airborne Ambitions
The expansion strategy is not confined to restaurant menus. Cacao de Davao has secured a supply agreement with Cebu Pacific airline to provide tsokolate for its in-flight champorado, accompanied by promotional features in the airline’s magazine. Furthermore, the brand supplies UCC Coffee with sizable volumes of powdered chocolate. These mainstream partnerships are critical for normalizing Davao chocolate in the minds of everyday consumers while providing the scale needed to sustain the industry. By simultaneously targeting premium international markets and mass-market domestic channels, these brand builders are creating a resilient ecosystem where the value of single-origin cacao is recognized not just by connoisseurs, but by a broader public, ensuring long-term prosperity for the region’s farmers.
