Hey there, I’m Gabe,
an Ethical Entrepreneur, Consultant & Public Speaker from Wellington, NZ.
I was born and raised in Pukerua Bay, one of New Zealand's beautiful beaches.
I put my love of adventure down to being raised in this wild, unpredictable place where running between sets of waves to stay dry on my way home from school kept me sharp.
In 2001 an insatiable passion for crafting espresso coffee led me to start my first company, a coffee roastery and chain of cafes in Melbourne, Australia, during the burgeoning third-wave coffee revolution.
I transitioned from a life of coffee beans to a new love of cocoa beans when I discovered that single-origin chocolate could have multiple flavour characteristics, like coffee or wine.
I also felt I had to do something about big chocolate's unethical practices, so I founded The Original Cocoa Traders (Australia, 2004) and The Wellington Chocolate Factory (New Zealand, 2013) to create a more sustainable and ethical world - one chocolate bar and one hot chocolate at a time.
I now sit on several Boards and enjoy helping companies achieve their potential.
Companies
THE WELLINGTON CHOCOLATE FACTORY - EST. 2013
I co-founded The Wellington Chocolate Factory, the first craft bean-to-bar chocolate factory in New Zealand.
Our mission is to create ethical and sustainable chocolate products that are delicious for people and the planet.
We source our cocoa beans directly from farmers, paying fair prices and building long-term relationships. We use organic and fair trade ingredients. And our chocolate bars are made with the same passion and dedication I witnessed on my cocoa adventures.
The Wellington Chocolate factory is the industry pioneer in New Zealand and the only Certified Organic Chocolate maker.
THE ORIGINAL COCOA TRADERS EST. 2004
The originators of the 'Melbourne-Style' drinking chocolate trend.
Countless brands have since flooded the hospitality market, yet they have yet to travel this far down the rabbit hole of quality and ethics:
• Absolute transparency.
• Certified Organic, FairTrade, Carbon Neutral (for real).
• Chocolate experts who have a long, respected history in coffee.
• We visit and work directly at Origin and are friends with those who make our bespoke cocoa powder in Peru.
• Our products are more than just another branded bag of cocoa and sugar with half-assed claims of quality and ethics.
• Digital design and branding by the award-winning team at Inject Design.
We work with several like-minded distributors in Australia, Europe, and the US. Let me know if you're interested in sampling our range for your outlet, I'd be happy to connect and send some your way.
Awards
Consulting
As a pioneer in the ethical chocolate industry, I also offer consulting services for various organisations that share my ideals. Whether just starting or looking to take your business to the next level, I can help you develop a strategy that aligns with your values and goals. From sourcing to production to marketing, I'll work with you every step of the way to create a more sustainable, profitable, and ethical business model.
Public Speaking
As a leader in the ethical chocolate industry, I've had the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience through public speaking.
In 2014, I gave a TEDx talk titled "The craft chocolate Revolution: How Ethical Chocolate is Changing the World." In this talk, I discussed the importance of ethical and sustainable practices in the chocolate industry and how consumers can make a difference through purchasing power.
I've given presentations on ethical entrepreneurship at various conferences and events. Businesses can be a force for good in the world, and I'm passionate about helping other entrepreneurs develop ethical and sustainable business models.
