Honoring Chocolate Legends

The chocolate industry has lost two legendary pioneers in the recent weeks due to cancer: John Steinberg and Klaus J. Jacobs. John Steinberg, physician, chocolatier and entrepreneur, co-founded of Scharffen Berger, one of the finest American chocolate manufacturers in San Francisco, California in the 1990’s. Mr. Steinberg traveled to Lyon, France to learn from the legendary chocolatiers at Bernachon and returned to America to capture the hearts and stomachs of many. Known for their small batch bean to bar approach and their ethical practices, Scharffen’s ingenuity brought immense recognition among culinary and home-based chefs for their superior quality and smooth texture.


After taking the helm of Johann Jacobs & Co. at 33 years of age, Klaus J. Jacobs transformed his great-uncle’s coffee trading firm to one of the largest chocolate and coffee manufacturers and sellers in Europe. During his reign at Johann Jacobs & Co., Mr. Jacobs acquired Swiss firm Tobler and France’s Suchard along with Holland’s Van Houten and French chocolate maker, Cacao Barry. With the addition of Cacao Barry came the creation of Barry Callebaut, one of the world’s leading producers of cocoa, chocolate and confections products.

Both Scharffen’s and Klaus’ contributions to the chocolate and cocoa industry will forever be remembered throughout the world.