Gearhearts celebrates its 25th with new packaging
Its chocolate box refresh debuted at this year's Summer Fancy Food Show.
Gearharts Fine Chocolates, the Virginia-based artisan chocolatier celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, has unveiled a refreshed packaging design that aims to honor the origins of chocolate while introducing a more modern look across its signature product collection.
Inspired by the cacao blossom, the new packaging features refined typography and botanical artwork that pay homage to chocolate's origins while creating a more elevated and cohesive visual identity for the brand.
"For 25 years, we've created chocolates designed to bring people joy," says Tim Gearhart, founder and chocolatier of Gearharts Fine Chocolates. "As we celebrate this milestone, we wanted packaging that reflects both where chocolate begins—with the cacao blossom—and the craftsmanship that defines every piece we make. Our goal was not to reinvent who we are, but to express it more clearly. The new design honors our heritage while positioning us for the future."
Since 2001, Gearharts Fine Chocolates has built a loyal following through its commitment to premium ingredients, handcrafted production methods, and distinctive flavor combinations, the brand says. Over the past quarter century, the company has reportedly grown from a small Charlottesville chocolatier into a nationally recognized artisan chocolate brand, earning a reputation for quality, creativity, and attention to detail. This year, Gearharts Fine Chocolates was named Best Chocolate Shop among the USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Awards.
Gearharts Fine Chocolates debuted the redesigned packaging at the 2026 Summer Fancy Food Show this past June in New York City.
The refreshed packaging will roll out across several of Gearharts' most popular products, including Dark Chocolate Caramels, Virginia Maple Caramels, Chocolate Dipped Pistachio Toffee, Brown Sugar Pecan Toffee, and its handmade chocolate bar collection featuring Maya, Criolla, Almond, Blueberry, Ginger, and Espresso varieties.
Tim Gearhart's journey to becoming a chocolatier began with his culinary adventures around the world. He served as a Marine Corps cook in the Asia-Pacific, received pastry training at the Culinary Institute of America, and further developed his skills in various settings, from an English castle to a Western dude ranch. Inspired by his travels and aiming to create chocolates that captured their essence, he returned to Virginia and established Gearharts Fine Chocolates in 2001.
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