Elevating Cacao With Dekada Chocolates

Gabbie de Guzman is an entrepreneur and an advocate for the beneficial role of organic farming in agriculture here in the Philippines.

To honor the heritage of the Batangas farmland that Gabbie and her family acquired, they decided to start a business in the artisanal chocolate industry by utilizing cacao.

At the start of the pandemic, Gabbie began promoting Dekada Chocolates on digital platforms as an artisan chocolate product focusing on the Filipino palate through the use of coconut sugar or muscovado.

Gabbie wanted Dekada Chocolates to be a brand that caters to the Filipino palate and change the perception that cacao can only be used in the form of tableau chocolate products. More than that, she also wanted to share her knowledge and love for farming.

“People forget sometimes that food is your way of connecting. As consumers, we get to decide who we support. We took that into consideration. We had the opportunity to put something out there from an agricultural background. And it comes through our products.”

Over the course of the pandemic, Gabbie found a connection with a niche audience of bakers who appreciate artisan products and gave her the biggest learning in running their business. 

“It’s never going to be just one thing. It doesn’t have to be. It’s always the conversation with the market –  wait for the reaction of the market and gather insights. There are some insights that you have to be humble enough to admit you didn’t think of. The decision is not the final step. You have to listen to how your customers react and then move forward.”

She added, “The roster of products is a reaction. We had to rely so much on the digital platform We decided to come up with the chocolate tubs. Because of the tubs, bakers were suddenly interested. We then offered customization products for events. It’s really gathering insights and the ability to respond swiftly to the demand.”

Moving forward, Gabbie hopes to make Dekada Chocolates’ presence more known by being physically present in the market through bazaars, pop-ups, etc.

Dekada Chocolates products and services are available through Instagram, Facebook, and Dekada Chocolates website.