All Bixby Chocolate products are manufactured in a single location—a 125-year-old former ice plant located on the working waterfront in Rockland, Maine. Over time, Bixby has been restoring this historic building. The Bixby name comes from founder Kate McAleer’s great-great grandparents whose last name was Bixby.
The team at Bixby ensures that quality organic cocoa beans are single-origin and directly sourced from Caribbean and Central American countries such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Belize, and Guatemala. Members of the Bixby team have visited these areas, meeting the farmers who produce the cocoa beans that are sourced.
One of Bixby’s major product lines is Bean to Bar, meaning that Bixby is a chocolate maker producing chocolate from single origin cocoa beans using craft techniques in its own production centers. We purchase ethically sourced chocolate paying above market price to ensure sustainability, quality, and support the farmers of which many are family owned.
Bixby Chocolate’s innovations include bean-to-bar flat chocolate bars, snacking candy bars (with nuts and fruits), beer brittle, chocolate bonbons, chocolate nibs, baking chips, and chocolate-covered nuts, caramels, toffees, peanut butter bites and more.
Bixby Chocolate operates the boutique within the actual chocolate factory in Rockland. The boutique offers all Bixby chocolates, treats, gifts, and from time to time, small batch specialties. The boutique also sells Bixby drinking chocolate and all Bixenta coffees—brewed hot cups and bags to go.
1 Sea Street Place, Rockland, Maine 04841
Bixby Chocolate opened its first-ever café in downtown Waterville in December of 2022. The café is located within the Paul J. Schupf Art Center, a community-oriented art-focused space that houses Waterville Creates, Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center, Ticonic Gallery + Studios, Colby College's Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art, and Studio 1902.
The café serves chocolate, drinking chocolate, Bixenta Coffee, snacks, hot and iced drinks, and more.
93 Main Street, Waterville, Maine 04901
BIXBYCHOCOLATECAFE.COM
Bixenta Coffee is the younger sister of Bixby Chocolate. Kate and Donna follow the same rules when making coffee as they do with chocolate - using single-origin ethically-sourced beans, the highest quality ingredients, and doing as much as they can by hand. All Bixenta Coffee beans are roasted in Rockland, Maine.
"Bixenta" translates to victorious woman, but to Kate and Donna, it means Bixby's little sister.
For more information about Bixenta Coffee, you can visit their website at BIXENTACOFFEE.COM.
Bixby Chocolate’s original and creative chocolate confections are made from ethically sourced ingredients and many are organic, non-GMO, kosher, gluten-free, and vegan. The company is certified Women-Owned.
Bixby Chocolate’s collaborative approach to creating innovative products has led to some great collaborations amongst Maine’s small business community. Currently, Bixby has product collaborations with Allagash Brewing Company, Maine Grains, Split Rock Distilling, and Project Puffin Seabird Institute.
“The team at Bixby represents so many of the things we love about working with local, independent companies. They ethically source their ingredients, they invest in their local communities, and they make some absolutely delicious sweets. The whole collaboration has been a pleasure and we couldn’t be more excited to share, and enjoy, the results.” said Jeff Pillet-Shore Marketing Director at Allagash.
Kate McAleer, the founder of Bixby Chocolate, and brainchild of this product collaboration said, “Bixby was seeking a way to innovate a new brittle concept and craft beer seemed like a wonderful addition to the flavor profile. Allagash was our dream partner—we started research and development with Allagash White and grew the concept from there.” And the final product is absolutely delicious. It is buttery, crunchy, nutty goodness in every bite. The brittle is available in three flavors using three of Allagash’s distinct brews.
Candy Queen
Kate McAleer founded Bixby Chocolate in December 2011. She bravely deviated from traditional career paths to pursue her passion for chocolate. As a socially responsible business owner, she is highly supportive of her local Maine community in Rockland. Kate's life experiences have influenced every aspect of the Bixby Chocolate manufacturing company. Her strong connections with family and the community have served as inspiration for her recipes. Additionally, she is driven by leading an active and health-conscious lifestyle.
Following her graduation from New York University, Kate combined her interests in cultural history and the culinary arts. She obtained diplomas in pastry arts and culinary management from the prestigious Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan. She also earned certificates from the Ecole Chocolate in Vancouver, British Columbia. Continuously striving for self-improvement and skill enhancement, Kate now holds an MBA in Food Marketing from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA.
2023 sofi ™ Awards: Gold Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Allagash Sixteen Counties® Spicy Chili Beer Brittle
2023 sofi ™ Awards: Gold Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Haiti Dark Chocolate Bar
2023 sofi ™ Awards: Gold Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Maine Grains Oat Milk Chocolate Bar
2023 sofi ™ Awards: New Product, Chocolate Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Maine Grains Oat Milk Chocolate Bar
2022 sofi ™ Awards: Gold Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Crème Brûlée White Chocolate Bar
2022 sofi ™ Awards: New Product, Chocolate Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Crème Brûlée White Chocolate Bar
2022 sofi ™ Awards: New Product, Non-Chocolate Confectionery Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Allagash White Beer Brittle
2022 Good Food Awards Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Crème Brûlée White Chocolate Bar
2017 Innovative Company of the Year, Pen Bay Chamber of Commerce
2016 Good Food Awards Winner, Bixby Chocolate, Nutty For You Bixby Bar
2014 Good Food Awards Finalist, Bixby Chocolate, To the Nines Bixby Bar
2014 Gorham Savings Bank LaunchPad Winner
2016 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow and Pitch Winner
2019 Small Business Administration Maine’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year
2021 Greenlight Maine Grand Prize Winner
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