Great stories rarely begin where they belong. Often, they start with a leap into the unknown.
Ten years after departing Metro Manila to relocate to Davao City in 2016, husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Kenneth and Shiela Reyes-Lao are celebrating a major business milestone. Drawn to the Davao region’s emerging cacao sector, the founders built Cacao Culture from the ground up. Starting first as a seedling nursery before expanding into cacao cultivation, post-harvest processing, and product development.
Now, as Cacao Culture marks a decade of growth, they are not just celebrating their own milestones. They are inviting an entire nation to pull up a chair and take a taste.
A Bold Leap into the Cacao Industry
Their early years were defined by hands-on experience, formal industry training, and invaluable guidance from community mentors who shared their technical knowledge and best practices. What began as a modest agricultural endeavor gradually developed into a broader mission. Inspiring more Filipinos to discover and appreciate locally crafted chocolate.
For the past 10 years, our mission has been to spread love for Philippine chocolates,” said Shiela Reyes-Lao, co-founder and Chief Chocolate Maker of Cacao Culture.
The 8.8 Chocolate Festival gives us the opportunity to invite more people by telling them about Philippine chocolate and providing the platforms for them to taste and experience Philippine chocolates.” she added.
From Craft Producer to Industry Platform
To connect with consumers beyond the local region, Cacao Culture launched its e-commerce operations in 2018. During the pandemic, this online ecosystem became a crucial lifeline not only for its signature offerings. But also for other local artisanal producers.
Over time, what began as a small digital storefront expanded to feature more than 20 local brands. This evolution transformed Cacao Culture from an individual chocolate manufacturer into a major curator and platform for Philippine craft chocolate. Today, the brand highlights its own line alongside acclaimed local makers. Such as Auro Chocolate, Malagos Chocolate, Nutrarich, Cacao De Celo, Coscao Chocolate, 1919 Chocolate, and other craft producers from across the country.
Along the way, we realized that spreading love for Philippine chocolate was not something we had to do alone,” said Kenneth Reyes-Lao, co-founder of Cacao Culture.
By working with other chocolate makers, we could offer customers a selection of Philippine chocolate and create more opportunities for the industry to grow together,” he added.
Bringing Philippine Cacao to the Table
Building on their digital success, the founders opened their first physical chocolate shop and cafe in 2023. The brick-and-mortar venue allowed patrons to experience local cacao beyond packaged retail bars. Introducing menus that feature chocolate in drinks, pastries, confections, desserts, savory meals, and guided tasting flights.
Commemorating a Decade: The Inaugural 8.8 Chocolate Festival
To mark ten years of growth, Cacao Culture is launching the first annual 8.8 Chocolate Festival. A month-long event created to highlight the multi-faceted roles the company has embraced as a grower, maker, and industry curator.
The festivities begin on August 1 with specialized tasting flights at Cacao Culture cafes located in Juna Subdivision and Poblacion Market Central in Davao City. The primary celebration takes place on August 8. Featuring in-store promotions, fun activities, special freebies, and complimentary hot chocolate for the first 88 customers at each branch location. Furthermore, nationwide promotions will run online and in stores from August 7 to August 9.
Throughout the month of August, Cacao Culture is celebrating with a variety of exciting promotions across their cafes and digital platforms. The festivities kick off with month-long tasting flights available at all Davao City cafe branches.
Expanding the celebration across the country, nationwide festival promotions. Featuring both online and in-store discounts will run from August 7 through August 9. The main festival event takes place on August 8. Bringing in-store festivities, special offers, and free hot chocolate for the first 88 visitors at each physical branch.
Finally, customers can look forward to curated releases, including specialized chocolate bundles, and new product launches. Exclusive freebies are also available at all cafe locations as well as their official digital storefronts, such as their website, Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
Establishing a Tradition for Local Chocolate
Through the creation of the 8.8 Chocolate Festival, Cacao Culture hopes to establish August 8 as an enduring annual tradition where consumers can discover new products. To reconnect with local craft producers, and celebrate the ongoing development of the Philippine cacao industry.
Looking ahead to its next decade, the company aims to expand its physical cafe footprint, and reach new markets. Also to partner with additional farmers and artisans, generate sustainable livelihoods, and elevate the international profile of Philippine chocolate.
Event attendees and online participants are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the official hashtag #88ChocolateFestival.
Read more Stories on Simpol.ph
Auro Chocolate Takes Over S Maison
Filipino Tablea Chocolate: How One Woman in Iloilo Is Reviving a Heritage Tradition
Ted’s Kitchen: Laguna’s Pride Honored at the Philippine Tourism Awards
