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Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
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Produces gourmet chocolates and confectionery ingredients
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Work Here?
Produces gourmet chocolates and confectionery ingredients
Overview
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company makes gourmet chocolates and premium baking ingredients for both home customers and food service professionals. Its products include chocolate squares and bars, baking ingredients, and hot cocoa. The company sells directly to shoppers online and through its own stores, and it also sells professional-grade ingredients to chefs, baristas, and other businesses. How its products work is simple: high-quality chocolate and ingredients are produced, packaged, and sold through multiple channels so customers can use them for eating, baking, and drink making. Ghirardelli differentiates itself from competitors by its long history (established in 1852), well-known premium brand, and its mix of consumer retail and professional B2B offerings. The goal is to provide premium chocolate and ingredients to both everyday customers and food-service partners while growing its direct-to-consumer presence and professional-use sales.
About Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Industries
Food & Agriculture
Consumer Goods
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
San Leandro, California
Founded
N/A
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Disney Springs refurbishment adds seating and checkout capacity, reopening in spring 2027.
- April 2026 Empire State Building pop-up extended Ghirardelli visibility during peak New York tourism.
- January 2026 McBride Sisters and Kroger-banner activation expands seasonal retail storytelling and shelf reach.
What critics are saying
- July 2026 San Francisco strike with Unite Here Local 2 exposes healthcare friction and brand damage.
- April 2026 salmonella recall hit 13 beverage mixes, threatening foodservice trust and repeat orders.
- A prolonged union standoff or major food-safety incident can poison premium positioning and sales.
What makes Ghirardelli Chocolate Company unique
- Founded in 1852, Ghirardelli controls bean-to-bar manufacturing from sourcing through finished chocolate.
- Its Disney Springs and Empire State Building flagship experiences create premium destination traffic.
- Lindt owns Ghirardelli, giving it global confectionery scale and distribution discipline since 1998.
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Benefits
Paid Vacation
Flexible Work Hours
Paid Holidays
Performance Bonus
Employee Discounts
Meal Benefits
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 7%1 year growth
↑ 7%2 year growth
↑ 7%Ghirardelli Chocolate Company closed its flagship San Francisco store on 30 July during a three-day strike over a union contract dispute. Workers from Unite Here Local 2 have been negotiating for over a year with the company regarding healthcare insurance coverage. The union accuses Ghirardelli of bargaining in bad faith and claims the company is proposing an alternative health insurance plan that would provide less coverage than the current union-backed plan. Workers established picket lines outside the store before moving to two other Ghirardelli Square locations. This marks the first strike by all shop workers since 1984. Ghirardelli, owned by Lindt & Sprungli since 1998, operates 19 shops across the US and recently surpassed $1 billion in annual net trade sales.
Ghirardelli's SF flagship store closes as union workers begin three-day strike. Ghirardelli Chocolate closed the doors of its flagship location at SF's Fisherman's Wharf Thursday after union workers walked off the job to launch a three-day strike over an ongoing contract dispute. Ghirardelli shuttered its Original Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop in Ghirardelli Square Thursday morning after workers began picketing, as the Chronicle reports. The company then directed customers to its other stores, prompting union members to move their picket line to the nearby Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience. The strike stems from stalled contract negotiations between Ghirardelli and Unite Here Local 2, which represents about 50 employees at the flagship shop. The union says talks, which began in May 2025, have broken down over proposed cuts to workers' health insurance and the company's refusal to disclose how much revenue it collects from a 6% customer surcharge that employees say is intended to help fund healthcare costs, according to the Chronicle. "They charge customers an extra 6% fee that's supposed to be for our healthcare, but they won't tell us how much they earn from that fee," longtime stocker Alicia Tamayo said in a statement released by the union. "Now they want to cut our health insurance." San Francisco businesses can reportedly choose to add healthcare surcharges to customers' bills, but they must report how much they collect if the fee is meant to cover costs under the city's Health Care Security Ordinance, along with how much they spend on employee healthcare, with any excess ultimately going toward workers' health benefits. Previously, Local 2 union members held a one-day strike on Valentine's Day, the company's busiest day of the year. Ghirardelli says it's "bargaining in good faith" and remains focused on reaching an agreement that supports employees while ensuring the long-term success of the business. Per the Chronicle, the company did not directly answer questions about the surcharge or say how long the flagship store would remain closed. The flagship shop is reportedly the only unionized Ghirardelli location in San Francisco, and its employees have not gone on strike since 1984. Image: Local 2/Facebook
Ghirardelli moving to temporary Disney Springs location ahead of major refurbishment. June 13, 2026 Some posts may contain affiliate links which means its team could earn money if you purchase products from its site. Ghirardelli moves one step closer to temporary Disney Springs relocation. Chocolate lovers may not have to wait much longer before seeing Ghirardelli settle into its temporary new home at Disney Springs. A newly filed permit for signage at the former Sprinkles and CrazyShake location in Town Center suggests preparations are moving forward as the iconic chocolate shop gets ready for a major renovation of its current location. The temporary storefront will serve guests while the existing Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop near World of Disney undergoes an extensive refurbishment. While Disney has not announced an official opening date for the temporary location, signage permits are typically filed during the final stages of a project, making this an encouraging sign that the transition could happen soon. Disney has already confirmed that Ghirardelli's current location will close for a major remodel, with the refreshed space expected to reopen in Spring 2027. Once construction is complete, the company plans to return to its longtime home, making the Town Center location a temporary stop along the way. For now, guests can keep an eye on the former Sprinkles and CrazyShake building as it transforms into Disney Springs' newest source of sundaes, shakes, and chocolate treats. With the permitting process moving ahead, it looks like Ghirardelli's sweet relocation is getting closer by the day. If you're planning a Disney Springs shopping and snacking adventure before the big move, be sure to reach out to its friends at Get Away Today to help plan your next Walt Disney World getaway. Get all the best Disney News and more, straight to your inbox! For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow Chip & Co. on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. Let its friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney or Universal Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who Chip & Co. use ourselves.
Ghirardelli Getting Closer to Opening Temporary Disney Springs Town Center Location. Posted: Thursday June 11, 2026 12:11pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop has filed a permit for signage at the former Sprinkles and CrazyShake location in Disney Springs Town Center, the latest sign that the temporary relocation is moving forward. The permit was filed today, though no opening date for the temporary location has been confirmed, and no closure date has been announced for the existing Ghirardelli spot near World of Disney. That said, a signage permit is typically one of the later steps before a new location opens, suggesting things are progressing. Given that Ghirardelli will want to keep downtime to a minimum, a smooth handover between the two locations seems likely - meaning the temporary Town Center spot could open close to when the original location closes for its remodel. The original Ghirardelli location near World of Disney is closing for a major remodel, with the refurbished space expected to reopen in Spring 2027. The Town Center location will be temporary only, with Ghirardelli returning to its original spot once the work is complete. Discuss on the Forums Conversation. Ghirardelli Getting Closer to Opening Temporary Disney Springs Town Center Location Ghirardelli has filed a signage permit for its temporary Town Center location, taking over the former Sprinkles and CrazyShake spot while its original location near World of Disney undergoes a remodel. No opening date has been confirmed, but a signage permit is typically one of the last steps before a new location opens. https://www.wdwmagic.com/dining/Ghirardelli-Soda-Fountain-and-Chocolate-Shop/news/11jun2026-ghirardelli-getting-closer-to-opening-temporary-disney-springs-town-center-location.htm Bocabear11 days ago. It is a shame they are not moving to a larger building permanently and doing something more like Toothsome Chocolate Factory with it...A huge Ghirardelli Branded mega store/bakery/restaurant would be a great fit for the Springs. Disney Co were locals for a while and it it was always on the list until it became impossible to find a seat inside or outside. If I want to stand and eat my food I go to Epcot. At least they have trash cans. sWANNISAX11 days ago. This used to be a staple stop on my trips for years. It simply just got too expensive and hard to find a seat especially in the evenings. I also miss the free samples. I wonder if the remodel might lead to a more unified store concept with the chocolate and ice cream areas mixed together. Without the samples to bring people in im not sure how much foot traffic the store side is getting. Those were the good old days!!! That's on the list of things I miss... RoyWalley11 days ago. After the pandemic (2022), they eliminated many flavors of ice cream & simplified their menu, not offering as much. Bring back the Espresso chip ice cream! I know it will never happen, but it would be awesome if Ghirardelli went to serving the ice cream in glass dishes like in San Francisco (I repeat that I know that it will never happen given the location). And bring back the samples! Comped12 days ago. They weirdly seem to come and go without warning, as a local it's ever so slightly annoying because a bit of chocolate could really help your blood sugar in the heat Springs seems to have no matter the time of day haha. Bring back the free samples Ghirardelli...then Disney Co'll talk. :grumpy:
The biggest, most costly food safety recall in American history. "The biggest, most costly food safety recall in the history of the United States," is what Pete Hardin is calling the April 2026 recall of powdered milk and buttermilk from California Dairies Inc. Some of the companies that are affected are Ghirardelli Chocolate, Costco's frozen meatloaf, and Chick-Fil-A's bread coating. Exports are continuing to Mexico and Asia where some of its being used in infant formula. But there is still a strong demand for dairy proteins and pricing has increased dramatically. The U.S. Department of Agriculture uses the dairy powder as a basis for pricing and with shortages in the market, consumers will be feeling the financial pain once again. Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is Hiring for 14 Jobs on Simplify!
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About Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
Industries
Food & Agriculture
Consumer Goods
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
San Leandro, California
Founded
N/A
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is Hiring for 14 Jobs on Simplify!
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today