Venchi, an Italian gourmet chocolate manufacturer founded by chocolatier Silviano Venchi, is getting ready to expand its presence throughout California, including several sites planned for Southern California.
Currently, the company only has two locations in the Golden State, with sites in Westfield Valley Fair and UTC San Diego. This is about to change, as Venchi USA plans at least three new locations in California, including two in Los Angeles. A representative from the company tells What Now Los Angeles that Venchi will start by opening a new location in Glendale at the Americana at Brand, opening in late July at 889 Americana Way. After this, the company will open another site in Los Angeles, with a new location opening in Century City in October. Finally, in December, Venchi will open a fifth California site in South Coast Plaza.
This is a significant accomplishment for the company, which was established in Turin in early 1878. At 20, Silviano Venchi invested all his savings in two bronze cauldrons and began experimenting with chocolate in a small shop on Via degli Artisti. Venchi sources cocoa from plantations in Central America, South America, and Africa, using distilled rum from the Caribbean and natural vanilla. The Piedmontese hazelnuts enhance the chocolate’s flavor, preventing any acidic taste. As a result, the company offers a luxurious selection of premium chocolates, gelato, and confectionery products.
“A company with more than 145 years’ worth of history, we bring the Italian way of life and delicious flavours to every corner of the earth, with 250 chocolate recipes and 90 flavours of gelato,” according to the company’s website. “We’re present in more than 70 countries in key cities like London, Hong Kong, Dubai, and New York, where our store is home to the biggest chocolate waterfall of all time. As part of our ongoing international expansion (more than 180 chocolate and gelato stores worldwide and counting), we’ve established ourselves in Jakarta, Shanghai, and Tokyo, bringing creativity, joy, and conviviality!”
