Chocolats Halba
Chocolats Halba is a Swiss chocolate manufacturer and Coop division producing branded, private-label, contract-manufactured and industrial chocolate products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Chocolats Halba is a Swiss chocolate producer headquartered in Pratteln in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. It operates as a division of the retail cooperative Coop rather than as an independent publicly listed company. The business manufactures chocolate for several purposes: consumer products sold under Coop-related brands, products made for outside brand owners, and chocolate ingredients or semi-finished goods supplied to the food-processing industry. The company traces its origins to Halba AG, founded in Zurich in 1933 by Willy Hallheimer and Werner Baer. Initial production was conducted on a very small scale in Baer's apartment with four employees. The business expanded through a series of relocations, acquisitions and technological changes. It moved to Wallisellen in 1955, acquired the Käppeli and SpoSa businesses in 1967, and began a long-term relationship with Coop in 1960. Coop first acquired a stake in Halba in 1968 and completed its takeover in 1972. Production was automated in 1970, reflecting the company's transition from a small producer into an industrial chocolate manufacturer. At the end of 2000, production moved from Wald in the canton of Zurich to Hinwil. The name Chocolats Halba was adopted in 2003, and from 2004 the business operated as a Coop division rather than as a separate company. In 2017, the manufacturer moved into a new facility at the Salina Raurica site in Pratteln. The plant was designed with annual production capacity of approximately 15,000 tonnes. The former Hinwil site was subsequently taken over by Transgourmet Holding for warehouse and sales activities. In September 2017, Chocolats Halba was combined with Coop's Sunray division, creating the Chocolats Halba / Sunray business. The company later underwent a corporate renaming to Cocoha AG and was dissolved through a merger with Coop Immobilien AG, while the Chocolats Halba name continued as a business and product identity within the Coop structure. Chocolats Halba produces roughly 20,000 tonnes of chocolate a year, according to the cited company description, in forms including bars, pralines and seasonal products such as Easter bunnies. Approximately 40 percent of its output is supplied to the Coop Group, with the balance sold to third-party customers in Switzerland and international markets. Its business therefore combines retail manufacturing with business-to-business and contract production. It has also produced chocolate for external initiatives and brands, including Plant-for-the-Planet's Die Gute Schokolade, as well as products for industrial processors. Sustainability is a central part of the company's market positioning. Chocolats Halba states that most of its sales come from products carrying environmental or social labels. Its sourcing and product references include Fairtrade Max Havelaar, Bio Suisse, USDA Organic, Canada Organic, UTZ and Carbon Neutral Product standards or certifications, depending on the product. Since summer 2014, the company has purchased only Fairtrade-certified cocoa beans, according to the cited reference. Its sustainability work has included cocoa projects in Ecuador, forest-protection and agroforestry activity in West Africa, and a collaboration with Plant-for-the-Planet in which profits from a chocolate product support reforestation in Mexico. The company also has an international production presence. Chocolats Halba Honduras AG was established in 2013 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and Coop owns 75 percent of that entity. In 2021, Coop replaced its previous Qualité & Prix chocolate range with the mid-priced, Fairtrade-certified Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse range. Chocolats Halba's combination of Swiss manufacturing, Coop distribution, third-party production and sustainability-labelled chocolate gives it a position between a consumer-facing chocolate brand and an industrial food manufacturer.
History
Chocolats Halba began as Halba AG in Zurich in 1933. Willy Hallheimer and Werner Baer established the business with start-up capital of 30,000 Swiss francs, with Hallheimer contributing the larger portion and providing Baer with a pledged loan for his share. Production initially took place in Baer's apartment and employed four people. The early company subsequently expanded its facilities and industrial capabilities, moving to Wallisellen in 1955. A significant stage in Halba's development was its relationship with Coop. Halba had supplied Coop since 1960. In 1967, the company acquired the Käppeli and SpoSa businesses, the latter associated with Spoerry and Schaufelberger in Wald, Zurich. Coop acquired a minority stake in Halba in 1968 and took full control in 1972. Around the same period, Halba automated its production in 1970, enabling it to operate at a substantially larger scale. At the end of 2000, production was transferred from Wald to Hinwil. The business adopted the name Chocolats Halba in 2003 and ceased operating as a separate company in 2004, becoming a division of Coop. A further organizational change occurred in 2013, when Chocolats Halba Honduras AG was established in San Pedro Sula. Coop holds 75 percent of that Honduran company, giving the group a production presence in a major cocoa-growing region. The company made sustainability a more explicit part of its sourcing policy during the 2010s. Since summer 2014, it has purchased only Fairtrade-certified cocoa beans, according to the cited reference. It also developed projects involving cocoa production in Ecuador, biodiversity and farmer livelihoods, as well as cooperation with Fairtrade Africa on mixed-crop systems intended to reduce pressure on West African forests. In 2017, Chocolats Halba moved into a new plant at Salina Raurica in Pratteln, near Basel. The facility was described as having annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes. The move ended production at the former Wallisellen and Hinwil sites; Transgourmet Holding later used the Hinwil location for warehousing and sales. In September of the same year, Chocolats Halba was combined with Coop's Sunray division, producing the Chocolats Halba / Sunray organization. The business subsequently adopted the corporate name Cocoha AG and was dissolved through a merger with Coop Immobilien AG, while Chocolats Halba continued as the recognizable manufacturing and product identity. The modern business serves both Coop and external customers. About 40 percent of its chocolate output is delivered to the Coop Group, while the remainder is supplied to third-party customers in Switzerland and other countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and China. The company's products include bars, pralines, Easter products and chocolate for industrial processing. It has manufactured for Coop's Swiss Confisa brand, the Plant-for-the-Planet initiative Die Gute Schokolade and other customer brands. Chocolats Halba has also received recognition for sustainability work. In 2017, it received a top ranking in a chocolate-bunny sustainability assessment conducted by the Südwind Institute and Global 2000. In 2018, it received the Swiss Ethics Award for its Sustainable Chocolate from Ecuador project with Coop. The company continues to present itself as a Swiss chocolate producer whose competitive proposition rests on manufacturing scale, private-label and contract capabilities, international reach and a high share of sustainability-labelled products.
- 2022
Reported annual sales reach CHF 285 million
[1]The cited reference reports annual sales of CHF 285 million and states that 90 percent of sales came from products carrying sustainability labels.
- 2021
Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse is introduced
[1]Coop replaces the Qualité & Prix chocolate range with a mid-priced Fairtrade-certified range manufactured under the Halba identity.
- 2018
Swiss Ethics Award
[1]Chocolats Halba receives the Swiss Ethics Award for its Sustainable Chocolate from Ecuador project with Coop.
- 2017
Pratteln production facility opens
[1]Chocolats Halba moves to a new production facility at Salina Raurica in Pratteln, with stated annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes.
- 2017
Chocolats Halba and Sunray are merged
[1]The company is combined with Coop's Sunray division and operates as Chocolats Halba / Sunray.
- 2014
Fairtrade-only cocoa sourcing begins
[1]The company begins purchasing only Fairtrade-certified cocoa beans, according to the cited reference.
- 2013
Honduran branch is established
[1]Chocolats Halba Honduras AG is founded in San Pedro Sula as the company's first branch in a developing country.
- 2004
The business becomes a Coop division
[1]Chocolats Halba ceases to operate as a separate company and becomes a division of Coop.
- 2003
The Chocolats Halba name is adopted
[1]The business begins using the Chocolats Halba name.
- 2000
Production moves to Hinwil
[1]At the end of the year, production is moved from Wald in Zurich to Hinwil.
Products and positioning
A Swiss chocolate manufacturing specialist combining Coop retail supply, international contract production and sustainability-labelled cocoa products.
Consumer chocolate range · 2021
Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse
A Coop chocolate range introduced in 2021 to replace the Qualité & Prix line. It is positioned in the mid-price segment and is described as Fairtrade certified. The range uses the Halba identity to communicate Swiss chocolate manufacturing and responsible cocoa sourcing to retail consumers.
Retail chocolate brand
Swiss Confisa
A Swiss chocolate brand for which Chocolats Halba manufactures products. The cited material identifies Swiss Confisa among the Coop-related brands produced by the company, alongside manufacturing for external customers and industrial processors.
Mission-led chocolate product
Die Gute Schokolade
A chocolate product associated with the children and youth initiative Plant-for-the-Planet. Chocolats Halba produces the product and forgoes profit, with proceeds directed toward reforestation projects in Mexico.
Chocolate confectionery
Chocolate bars
Bars are one of the company's principal finished-product formats. Chocolats Halba makes bars for Coop-related retail ranges, outside brands and other customers, including products carrying Fairtrade, organic or other sustainability-related labels.
Chocolate confectionery
Pralines and seasonal chocolate
The manufacturer produces pralines and seasonal products such as Easter bunnies. These products serve both retail programs and customer-specific manufacturing requirements.
B2B chocolate ingredients
Industrial chocolate
Chocolats Halba supplies chocolate to the processing industry and other business customers. This part of the portfolio complements consumer-facing products and allows the company to operate as a contract and industrial manufacturer.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Chocolate-bunny sustainability assessment
Switzerland
Chocolats Halba participated in the sustainability context evaluated by the Südwind Institute and Global 2000 in a test of the ecological and social quality of chocolate Easter bunnies.
Outcome. The company received the highest ranking in the assessment together with two other companies.
- Die Gute Schokolade reforestation collaboration
International
Chocolats Halba collaborated with Plant-for-the-Planet to produce Die Gute Schokolade. The company waived profit from the product, allowing the proceeds to support reforestation projects in Mexico.
Outcome. The product connected chocolate sales with funding for reforestation and became one of the cited examples of Halba's sustainability-oriented collaborations.
- Sustainable Chocolate from Ecuador
Switzerland · Ecuador
Chocolats Halba and Coop developed a cocoa project in Ecuador combining economic, environmental and social objectives. The stated aims included improving living standards, supporting biodiversity and integrating and promoting young farmers.
Outcome. The project received the Swiss Ethics Award in 2018.
- West African forest and agroforestry project
West Africa
Working with Fairtrade Africa, Chocolats Halba supports farmers in converting cocoa monocultures into mixed-crop systems. The project is intended to help address forest loss while improving the resilience of cocoa-growing communities.
Outcome. The cited material states that the project supports approximately 2,500 farmers.
Brand decisions
2021
Launch of Halba – Le Chocolatier SuisseProduct launchBackground
Coop replaced its Qualité & Prix chocolate range as part of a revised retail offering.
Action taken
Coop introduced Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse as a mid-priced, Fairtrade-certified range.
Aftermath
The Halba name gained greater visibility as a consumer-facing identity within Coop's chocolate assortment.
2017
Move to Pratteln and consolidation with SunrayStrategyBackground
Chocolats Halba sought to consolidate production and align its manufacturing operations within the Coop structure.
Action taken
The company moved to a new Pratteln facility and was merged with Coop's Sunray division.
Aftermath
The resulting business operated as Chocolats Halba / Sunray, while former production locations were closed or repurposed.
2014
Fairtrade-certified cocoa sourcing policyStrategyBackground
The company was increasing its emphasis on social and environmental standards in cocoa procurement.
Action taken
Since summer 2014, Chocolats Halba has purchased only Fairtrade-certified cocoa beans, according to the cited reference.
Aftermath
Fairtrade and other sustainability labels became a central part of the company's product portfolio and market positioning.
1972
Coop completes the takeover of HalbaM&ABackground
Coop had held a stake in Halba since 1968 and had supplied the business with a major customer relationship since 1960.
Action taken
Coop acquired Halba completely, bringing the chocolate manufacturer into the Coop Group.
Aftermath
Halba later operated as a Coop division and became an important supplier for Coop retail products.
Recent events
- 2022
Chocolats Halba reports CHF 285 million in annual sales[1]
Other
The cited company information reported annual sales of CHF 285 million for 2022. The same reference stated that 90 percent of sales came from products carrying sustainability labels.
- 2021
Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse replaces Coop's Qualité & Prix range[1]
Product launch
Coop introduced the Halba – Le Chocolatier Suisse range as a replacement for the Qualité & Prix chocolate range. The new line was positioned in the mid-price segment and identified as Fairtrade certified.
- 2017
Chocolats Halba opens a new production facility in Pratteln[1]
Other
The company moved production into a new facility at the Salina Raurica site in Pratteln, replacing its former locations in Wallisellen and Hinwil.
- 2017
Chocolats Halba and Sunray are combined[1]
M&A
In September 2017, Chocolats Halba was merged with Coop's Sunray division and the resulting business was named Chocolats Halba / Sunray.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/chocolats-halba · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled