Collaborations, Recognitions & Awards

Celebrating 10 + Years of Zak's Chocolate

COLLABORATIONS, RECOGNITIONS & AWARDS

LOCAL COLLABORATIONS

           AZ QUEEN BEE HONEY CHOCOLATE BONBONS & WHIPPED HONEY since 2015

            NUT SACK NUTS BARKS AND CARAMEL PECAN TURTLES since 2016

            ICONIC COCKTAIL SALTED COCOA NIB MIXER since 2018

            SEESALT FLEUR DE SEL BARK since 2020

            WeBe COFFEE ROASTERS MOCHA BONBONS, COFFEE BREAK AND LATTE BARS since 2025

            SUPER CHUNK SWEETS & TREATS AWARD WINNING CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM (gone, but this is a sweet memeory) 2025 - 2021

            SHAKE SHACK 3 locations – FROZEN DESERTS 2016- 2020 (then they stopped using local ingredients)

            OUR CUSTOM-ROASTED COCOA NIBS HAVE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO DOZENS OF CRAFT BEERS AT:

            AZ WILDERNESS BREWING CO since 2016

            GOLDWATER BREWING CO since 2020

            WREN HOUSE BREWING CO since 2021

            ROSES BY THE STAIRS BREWING CO since 2022

            TOMBSTONE BREWING CO 2021 

            OHSO BREWING CO 2026

LOCAL RECOGNITION

DEVOUR CULINARY CLASSIC - 20 BEST BITES 2016

AZ CENTRAL – 100 ESSENTIAL RESTAURANTS LIST 2023

PHOENIX NEW TIMES BEST OF PHOENIX: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021 2023

PHOENIX MAGAZINE BEST OF THE VALLEY 2016 & 2017

PHOENIX NEW TIMES 100 VALLEY TASTEMAKERS 2016

PHOENIX NEW TIMES BROWNIE FLIGHTS ARTICLE 2017

PHOENIX NEW TIMES 50 ESSENTIAL TASTES 2018

PHOENIX NEW TIMES VEGAN OFFERINGS 2019

MAGAZINE FEATURES

PHOENIX NEW TIMES PROJECT PHOENIX FEATURE 2016

EDIBLE PHOENIX PROFILE SUMMER 2017

PHX HOME & GARDEN: ETHICAL ENTREPENEURS 2017

PHX HOME & GARDEN: COCOA NIB MIXER 2018

PHOENIX MAGAZINE SUMMER SWEETS 2019

IMAGES AZ MAGAZINE 2019

PHOENIX NEW TIMES – CHOCOLATE TASTING 2020

PHOENIX MAGAZINE – COCOA GRILLING RUB 2021

PARADISE VALLEY CITY LIFESTYLE FEATURE 2021

GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE FEATURE 2023

TV & VIDEO FEATURES

PHOENIX MAGAZINE BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURE VIDEO 2016

GOLF CHANNEL - GOLF ADVISOR ROUND TRIP SCOTTSDALE 2018

PBS TELEVEVISON FEATURED ON SCI GIRLS TV SERIES 2018

FOX 10 COREY’S CORNER 2016 & 2021

CW 6

AZ 3 TV

AZ DAILY MIX

12 NEWS

DESERT DISH – EXPERIENCE SCOTTSDALE VIDEO FEATURE 2018

FOX TV – MADE IN ARIZONA FEATURE  2020

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION TASTE AMERICA 2016

WEST JET MAGAZINE 2016

WHERE MAGAZINE FOODIES IN PHOENIX 2016

USA TODAY TOP 50 CHOCOLATE MAKERS 2018

NY DAILY NEWS TOP 50 CHOCOLATIERS 2018

AAA VIA MAGAZINE SPLURGE-WORTHY ARTISANAL CHOCOLATE 2018

CHOCOLATE CONNOISSEUR COVER FEATURE 2018

TRIP SAVVY AWARD 2018

PASSPORT MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2018

USA TODAY 10 BEST DESSERTS IN SOTTSDALE 2019

CONNECTICUT TRAVEL SCOTTSDALE FEATURE 2019

EAT THIS NOT THAT BEST CHOCOLATE IN AZ 2020

EAT THIS NOT THAT BEST BROWNIES IN AZ 2021

GARDEN & HEALTH MAGAZINE 2021

FOOD & WINE 50 BEST CHOCOLATE MAKERS IN US 2021

FOOD NETWORK – HOW TO BUY CHOCOLATE FOR EATING & BAKING 2022

PBS NEXT AVENUE – OUR ORIGIN STORY FEATURE 2023

WINE SPECTATOR – PHOENIX WINE FEATURE 2023

TASTING TABLE – TOP 17 CHOCOLATIERS IN USA 2023

FROMMER’S GUIDE TO AZ – “A MUST, DON’T MISS!”  2025

SLOW FOOD USA - SNAIL OF APPROVAL 2025

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FROM 2016 -  2019

During our initi

During our initial years in business, we entered award competitions to see how our creations compared with others and to obtain Judges’ feedback. We were fortunate to have received award recognition for virtually every item we entered and it helped us to feel comfortable with our own taste instincts. Due to this, plus the cost of entering and shipping product, we stopped entering these competitions. We figured we didn’t need award stickers on our chocolate bars anymore since we don’t compete for shelf space in someone else’s store.

al years in business, we entered award competitions to see how our creations compared with others and to obtain Judges’ feedback. We were fortunate to have received award recognition for virtually every item we entered and it helped us to feel comfortable with our own taste instincts. Due to this, plus the cost of entering and shipping product, we stopped entering these competitions. We figured we didn’t need award stickers on our chocolate bars anymore since we don’t compete for shelf space in someone else’s store.

(1) GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER 2017 - FIRST ARIZONA WINNER FOR CONFECTIONS

(7) INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE AWARDS WINNERS 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019

(9) INTERNATIONAL CHOCOLATE SALON WINNERS 2017

(1) CHOCOLATE ALLIANCE (NW CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL) WINNER 2017

(3) ACADEMY OF CHOCOLATE WINNERS 2018