The Duck Pond Podcast | Tips for CPG Brands to Take Flight

Ep. 19 - Creating The Chocolate That Gives You Wings - Adam Deremo


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Today we’re featuring Adam Deremo, co-founder of AWAKE Chocolate, the brand that flipped the script on energy and indulgence by putting caffeine into chocolate. Instead of coffee or energy drinks, AWAKE delivers a pick-me-up in bite-size and bar-form chocolate , each bite packing roughly half a coffee’s brew: 50 mg caffeine, fair-trade, gluten-free, no artificial stuff.

We’ll dig into:

  • How AWAKE positions itself in the “functional food / caffeinated treat” space, combining everyday energy with the simple pleasure of chocolate.
  • The leap from corporate CPG roots to startup chocolate-maker: what made Adam and his co-founders decide to build a “functional chocolate that tastes good.”
  • The evolution of formulation, taste testing, ingredient choices and packaging, how they balanced caffeine, flavor, quality and accessibility to build a product that people enjoy and trust.
  • Scaling a functional food brand: rapid growth, distribution, retail partnerships (including recent expansion into major retailers and even listings in big chains), investment rounds, and navigating the challenges that come with growth.

✨ Learn how AWAKE Chocolate is redefining what “energy” means, making it delicious, accessible, and a little more fun.

🔗 AWAKE Chocolate Website → https://awakechocolate.com/ Instagram → @awakechocolate

We’re a custom packaging manufacturer and we’re changing the landscape of packaging. Paking Duck: https://www.instagram.com/paking.duck/ Website → www.pakingduck.com

#chocolate #energy #entrepreneurship #packaging

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The Duck Pond Podcast | Tips for CPG Brands to Take FlightBy Jason Wong