Vietnam’s Mekong Capital invests in Marou Chocolate, fuels expansion and concept scale-up

vietnamfoodfeaturedproductsinnovationho chi minh cityindustry newshomegrown brands

Apr 6

Marou Chocolate is Mekong Enterprise Fund IV (MEF IV)’s first portfolio pick. The investment from MEF IV will help to facilitate Marou Chocolate’s plan to further expand its international footprint as well as scale up existing concepts - Maison Marou and Marou Station, develop new products and build a formidable team of leaders.

Mekong Enterprise Fund IV (MEF IV) announces an undisclosed investment in Marou Chocolate Company, one of the leading and first bean-to-bar artisanal chocolate makers in Asia. Marou Chocolate was founded in 2011 and currently boosts a global footprint of more than 16 countries across Europe, Asia and China where it sells its signature single origin dark chocolate bars adorned with beautiful packaging beloved by Vietnamese residents, expats and tourists alike. Besides manufacturing and distributing chocolate bars, Marou also runs a chain of three café-patisserie-chocolate factory concepts called Maison Marou in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. In 2020, the company developed another concept offering on-the-go experience called Marou Station.

The investment from MEF IV will help to facilitate Marou Chocolate’s plan to further expand its international distribution as well as scale up existing concepts - Maison Marou and Marou Station, develop new products as well as build a formidable team of leaders. Marou aims to widen the appeal of its chocolate to Vietnamese customers while maintaining a premium for cacao farmers.

According to Mr. Vincent Mourou, Co-Founder and CEO of Marou: “Our choice for Mekong Capital started as a spirited conversation between founders, and effortlessly evolved into a partnership of synergy. Samuel and I recognized that Mekong Capital’s vision-based approach resonated with the values-based company that we have been building since 2011. Their stellar reputation, and proven ability to support and deliver founder’s visions, cemented our decision to further the conversation. We are thrilled to have them on-board as we take our adventures in chocolate to more chocolate lovers around the world.”

Mr. Chad Ovel, Partner of Mekong Capital, said: “Since my first taste of Marou Chocolate nearly ten years ago, I have been a loyal and devout fan ever since. Thus, I was absolutely thrilled when the founders of Marou invited Mekong Capital to join them on the next stage of their adventure in chocolate: to bring their authentic product to wider audiences, both in Vietnam and abroad. Together, we are highly committed to achieving that bold vision.”

Featured

Hi, I’m Jovel Chan, a Singaporean food and drink blogger and F&B consultant📍Ho Chi Minh City.

Over the past two years, I’ve had the pleasure of dining in more than 150+ restaurants across Vietnam and judging multiple competitions. Here, I share the industry through my eyes and I hope it inspires you to discover, learn and explore Vietnam’s exciting food and drink scene.