Autumn 2026 | 9 Turning exceptional coca into mouthwatering chocolate, Čokoladnica Cukrček in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been refining its knowledge and processes for more than 35 years. The team behind this luxury chocolate shop believe chocolate is not just a sweet, but an expression of craft, origin, and taste. This is why every bar made at its store is given the same attention a fine winery gives its vintage. Netting the title of Best Premium Chocolatier 2026 – Slovenia as a result, CEO Luka Bonotelli told us more about the brand and the precision that goes into every bit of chocolate. Luxury Chocolate in the Heart of Slovenia’s Capital fleur de sel. The price of these bars can reach up to €100 per kg, with its fruit pralines, all of which are made with freeze-dried fruit, similarly costing between €100 and €200 per kg. As for why the brand chose to enter this high-end market segment, Luka told us it was the only one where Čokoladnica Cukrček would be able to work without any compromises. Preserving its status amongst the top luxury chocolate producers in the world, Čokoladnica Cukrček has, over the years, hit a number of milestones that have secured its place in the conversation around which manufacturer is best. These include receiving three stars in the Superior Taste Awards, holding two Guiness World Records (the first for largest chocolate bar in the world in 2016 and the second for the largest chocolate flag in the world in 2018). But the highest praise undoubtedly came in 2008, when Queen Elizabeth II visited Ljubljana and praised the brands’ Prešeren Pralines, which she was generously gifted. As cocoa becomes more expensive and all actual chocolate, not that made with palm oil, becomes a luxury good, this chocolate shop in Ljubljana is confident in its ability to expand its stores beyond Slovenia, thanks to its franchise model. The franchise concept created by the team is viable for almost every market in the EU and beyond, and in those markets where there is greater purchasing power, Čokoladnica Cukrček will position itself at an ever higher level, with even greater quality and an even more pronounced luxury feel. Outside of its expansion, the brand also remains focused on the Chocolarium chocolate museum in Ljubljana, of which it is both a part and a partner for the products sold in the shop. This complex consists of the museum itself, as well as a chocolate workshop, a retail shop, and a patisserie, where gusts can order desserts made to their liking. The museum, which is interactive, aligns with Čokoladnica Cukrček’s mission of sharing the experience of chocolate. It too will hopefully expand through a similar franchising system. Ultimately, Čokoladnica Cukrček is many things, but above all it is a manufacturer of some of the finest chocolate Europe has to offer. As a result, we are delighted to recognise it here as the Best Premium Chocolatier 2026 – Slovenia. Contact: Luka Bonotelli Company: Čokoladnica Cukrček Web Address: https://cukrcek.si/ very bar of Čokoladnica Cukrček’s chocolate is crafted in the same way, with carefully selected beans, slow processing, a precise recipe, and packaging worthy of what awaits inside. This quality focus continues throughout the entirety of the brand’s offering, from selecting supply partners with only the finest raw materials to the ongoing development of its signature recipes. The purpose of all this is to offer an experience where the guest sees, tastes, and understands the journey chocolate goes on, from cacao tree to customer. “Our ambition is to place Slovenian craftsmanship alongside the best chocolatiers in Europe.” To ensure the essence of the brand is captured in every bar, Čokoladnica Cukrček focuses on uncompromising quality above all else. Luka explained: “A smaller batch is always better than a lesser chocolate. Every batch goes through sensory control; whatever fails to meet the standard never reaches the shelf.” There to safeguard that promise is the master chocolatier, who embodies the pinnacle of the 35 years of knowhow, handwork, and ability to know just when to temper that the team here constantly exude. Beyond this, the brand knows exactly where its cocoa and fruit come from, enjoys long-term relationships with its suppliers, treats traceability and fair sourcing as preconditions, and mixes heritage with boldness across its flavours. For Čokoladnica Cukrček, the luxury it delivers lies in mixing all of these things into delectable chocolate that is defined not by its price tag, but simply by the feeling customers have with every bite they take. That being said, Čokoladnica Cukrček certainly delivers chocolate fitting of its luxury status, from bars with local honey to bars with gold, truffles, or E
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