HOMEGROWN chocolate brand Cacao de Davao is expanding its market reach while championing local cacao through a series of partnerships with diverse local business establishments.
On May 27, the brand officially launched its latest collaboration with Davao City-based resto-bars Muni, Momo’s, Moments, and Coloseo during a gathering at Muni Mixology + Kitchen along Tavera Street.
The initiative is designed to introduce high-quality, locally produced chocolate and cacao products to entirely new consumer segments while reinforcing the region’s agricultural backbone.
”The motivation for our collaborations is to reach out to more markets for our products. In turn, we can help more cacao farmers across the region,” said Cacao de Davao chief operating officer Ethan Kyle Lim.
This venture marks the fourth partnership for the brand this year alone, following successful rollouts with Lamano, Ikao, and Siempre restaurants. This has yielded new items on the resto-bars’ menus, including Cacao-Leo (inspired by Coloseo’s Chocoleo, using 65% chocolate), Cacao Matcha (a twist on Ceremonial Matcha with a hint of chocolate), Pistachio Cacao Latte (a cacao spin on this cafe favorite), Cacao Blvd (inspired by Cacao de Davao’s Spicy Chocolate), and Cacao Sour (a Whiskey Sour enhanced with Cacao nibs).
However, the company’s vision extends far beyond traditional dining spaces. Cacao de Davao is actively branching out to intersect with a wide array of alternative sectors to integrate cacao into everyday lifestyle experiences. Lim revealed that the brand is currently eyeing future collaborations with educational institutions, airlines, fitness gyms, wellness and lifestyle centers, and even skincare and beauty product manufacturers.
The aggressive expansion aligns perfectly with the region’s agricultural status: Davao City is officially designated as the Philippines’ Chocolate Capital, while the broader Davao Region serves as the country’s Cacao Capital, yielding roughly 80% of the Philippines’ annual cacao production.
Cacao de Davao has built its reputation on mastering this rich supply chain, managing everything from sustainable farming to final production—a dedication that has successfully brought Davao chocolate to both national and international stages.
“Through these collaborations, we want to open more doors and create more opportunities for the industry,” Lim added.
By securing consistent and stable market demand, these partnerships will hopefully bring long-term prosperity to Davao’s cacao farmers. By properly valuing the farmers’ hard work, this initiative ensures that the sweetness of the region’s success is shared by those who cultivate it.
