Endangered Species Chocolate (ESC) has named Whitney Bembenick as chief revenue officer. 

This move comes as ESC pursues an aggressive strategic growth plan that will propel the brand into new spaces.  

 “Whitney’s breadth and depth of experience span our business, from product innovation to brand leadership,” said ESC CEO Curt Vander Meer. “Her understanding of category trends and the challenges retailers face have been instrumental in how we uniquely bring value to our retail partners and serve our customer community.” 

 In 2013, Bembenick started the R&D program that has since produced more than 30 new items — including ESC’s Oat Milk Chocolate portfolio. Since its initial launch in 2020, this innovation platform has grown by eight SKUs, has national grocery distribution, and has boosted the impact of the company’s mission to give forward 10 percent of profits.  

In her new role, Bembenick will lead the sales, innovation and marketing programs toward reaching the company's strategic growth goals. 

"We have a true and authentic value for our customer community,” Bembenick says. “That, paired with a clear and hungry path for growth, is what makes me confident in the trajectory of our brand.” 

Bembenick is a 2018 Purdue University alumni, IBJ 40 under 40 member and Food Science Early Career Achievement recipient who enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters in Westfield, Indiana.