When we first started Markham & Fitz, we began with two single-origin chocolate bars. We were so inspired by the nuance in cocoa beans that we set out to change the way we all experience chocolate.
I remember when we first started listening to and trusting our customers.
When we popped up at farmers markets and community events to sample and tell people about this craft we'd fallen in love with, people would repeatedly ask us things like, "Can you make chocolate with sea salt and almonds?"
Dedicated to our purist origins, we hesitated at first, until we opened the cafe at the 8th Street Market in Bentonville. That’s when we leaned into all the feedback you’d been giving us. We introduced our now best selling bars like Sea Salt Almond and Southern Pecan, and branched out with some more adventurous flavors like Brain Food and Lavender. Now, we can't stop trying new flavors in the hope of finding your next favorite!
Over the years, YOU all have given us a reason for being. You have encouraged and supported us in the pursuit of craft by delighting in what we make, sharing suggestions with us, and telling your friends about the chocolate.
Just the other day, my parents were visiting town, and my dad sat outside the shop with his dog waiting on my mom and I to grab what we wanted. He overheard some preteen boys walk up to the shop.
One said to the other, "Where do you want to go?"
He replied, "Markham & Fitz"
"What's that?"
"Only the best chocolate in the world!" the boy confidently asserted, as if it was common knowledge one must share with his friends.
One thing is for certain.
Shared joy, like what that young boy shared with his friend, makes what we do so worthwhile.
Thank you to our customers for supporting local, woman-owned, sustainability, and ethical sourcing. Thank you to ALL the hands that have touched our recipes, processes, and customer service over the years -- you have left a lasting impression on this company in one way or another. (...and a special thank you to the early years staff who endured my novice, often hot-tempered, and sometimes shortsighted management. Always improving ;)).
Thank you to everyone who has passed through our doors (or online store!) -- You have given us one more reason for being with each purchase, each friend you've brought to the shop, and each time you’ve sought an experience with us.
As we like to say, cheers to chocolate -- and cheers to 10 years!
Lauren Blanco
Owner & Founder | Markham & Fitz
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