Askinosie shares chocolate profits with Mexican farmers

Askinosie, who started Askinosie Chocolate last May and turned its first profit in October, returned Sunday from a visit to the Soconusco region of Mexico. That’s where 19 farmers have been growing the Trinitario beans that flavor his flagship Soconusco chocolate bar.

During his visit, Askinosie shared 10 percent of his company’s net profits with the farmers, in line with his belief in offering a Stake in the Outcome – a business model borrowed from Jack Stack, owner of Springfield’s SRC Holdings Corp.

Askinosie made a similar journey to Ecuador in December to give 10 percent of his profits to 22 farmers who also have been harvesting, fermenting and drying the cacao beans used to make Askinosie Chocolate.

The company’s factory, at 514 E. Commercial St., is producing about 2,500 chocolate bars a week, and most are shipped to specialty stores across the country, according to previous Springfield Business Journal coverage.