Pioneering Craft Chocolate Technology Since 2005
What began in an Atlanta garage has transformed into a global movement empowering chocolate entrepreneurs across more than 100 countries. CocoaTown's journey reflects the well-refined blend of innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to creating sustainable value chains worldwide.
Our Mission
Pioneering Craft Chocolate Technology
Our Vision
To provide a complete ecosystem of tools, training, and support for makers of exceptional chocolate and fine foods.
TIMELINE
Management team
President & Co-Founder, CocoaTown
Andal Balu
With roots in a small town called Palani in Southern India, Andal's journey from agricultural scientist to global entrepreneur embodies the spirit of determination. After earning her Master's degree in Botany, Andal worked for the Indian government's Agricultural Research Service before moving to the United States.
In 1992, seeking to balance family responsibilities with professional ambitions, Andal launched Inno Concepts Inc. from her garage. This was the first stepping stone toward what would eventually become CocoaTown. Her vision and business acumen have been recognized globally, including her selection for the first cohort of the Women Export University program, which equips women entrepreneurs with resources to compete internationally.
"The best part of being in this business is the happiness we get when we meet our customers who thank us for putting them in business. We have created chocopreneurs in more than 100 countries."
Technical Director & Co-Founder
Dr. Balu M. Balasubramanian
With a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and over 15 years in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Balu brings exceptional scientific expertise to CocoaTown's engineering challenges. His background in physics and chemistry gives him unique insights into chocolate processing at a molecular level. He is a constant innovator.
Author of more than 25 scientific papers and holder of 10 patents, Dr. Balu combines rigorous scientific knowledge with practical engineering solutions. His research on chocolate particle refinement, published in the Journal of Food Engineering, demonstrates the depth of technical expertise that makes CocoaTown's equipment superior.
From Indian Cuisine to Global Chocolate Revolution
In 1996, Andal and Dr. Balu became North American distributors for specialty equipment used in traditional South Indian cooking. By 2007, Inno Concepts had reached its first million dollars in sales.
Then came the recession of 2008.
The Pivotal Moment: As sales disappeared overnight, the couple discovered something extraordinary: some of their customers were repurposing their Indian wet grinders to make chocolate from cocoa beans. Craft chocolate makers were spending 48-72 hours grinding ingredients to create small-batch bean-to-bar chocolate bars and more.
This revelation sparked a transformation. Rather than simply surviving the economic downturn, Andal and Dr. Balu saw an opportunity to pioneer a new industry. That’s just what they did.
In 2009, they launched CocoaTown with a clear mission: to design and manufacture accessible equipment specifically for craft chocolate makers.
"We were creating a machine for a very niche market... In 2012 at a chocolate festival in Brazil, we discovered from a French chocolate expert that 29 of the 30 companies spearheading the 'New American Chocolate' movement were our customers. We didn't realize the impact we were making until that moment."
— Andal Balu
Empowering Value Creation Worldwide
Today, CocoaTown has grown beyond its origins to become the global leader in bean-to-bar chocolate equipment. Our comprehensive range of roasters, crackers, winnowers, melangers, grinders and tempering machines has democratized chocolate production, enabling thousands of entrepreneurs to create exceptional products with relatively minimal investment.
Our Mission: Creating and Empowering Entrepreneurs
We believe in more than selling machines. We're building a movement. CocoaTown is committed to helping entrepreneurs add value to raw agricultural products through our four pillars:
Equipment
Innovative, affordable, and durable machines that deliver professional results
Education
Free "Empowering Chocopreneurs" webinar series, tutorials, and resources
Exposure
Connecting our customers to global markets and opportunities
Expertise
Personalized guidance for entrepreneurs at every stage
Impact That Matters
In the chocolate industry, it's often said that farmers can't afford to eat chocolate made from their own cacao. At CocoaTown, we're changing this narrative for cocoa producers by enabling farmers to process their harvest into value-added products that command premium prices.
Our equipment has enabled farmers across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to move beyond selling raw beans as commodities. Now they can create finished chocolate or semi-processed products like cocoa nibs and liquor—multiplying their income while preserving more value within their communities.
Farmers can also use our entry-level products to complete flavor profile analysis of their cacao beans. Make microbatches of finished chocolate and see how your beans express themselves.
Recognition and Achievements
CocoaTown's contribution to the craft chocolate movement has earned significant recognition:
Globe Award 2023
Globe Award 2022
Globe Award 2021
Sustainability at Our Core
Our commitment to sustainability extends to three essential areas:
- Cocoa Farming: Supporting ethical sourcing and sustainable agricultural practices
- Customer Businesses: Designing equipment that provides lasting value and growth potential
- Environmental Responsibility: Creating durable machines that minimize waste and energy consumption
Join Our Global Community
When you choose CocoaTown, you're buying much more than equipment. You will join a global community of innovators, makers, and entrepreneurs committed to quality and sustainability.
Our motto, "Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu"—"May all beings everywhere in the universe be happy and free"—guides everything we do.
We believe that by empowering entrepreneurs to create value in their communities, we contribute to this vision of universal wellbeing.