The intense aroma of sweet chocolate permeates every inch of the massive Guittard Chocolate Company factory in Burlingame, where chips of every variety rush down a conveyor belt to cool before getting packaged into red, orange and gold bags bound for Safeway, Whole Foods and other supermarkets around the country.

Since 1955, Guittard has cranked out a line of confections, including those legendary chocolate chips, wafers and chocolate bars, in this sleepy corner of the Peninsula. But the company, helmed by fourth- and fifth-generation Guittard family members, is actually much older, dating back to 1868, when Etienne Guittard founded the chocolate business in San Francisco. Today, the company makes more than 70 types of products that are found at grocery stores and sold to professional bakers and top Bay Area restaurants like Chez Panisse, Nightbird and Flour Water. That doesn’t even include the products Guittard develops for companies like See’s Candies.

“We always say you’ve probably had more Guittard in your life than you realize,” chief marketing officer Amy Guittard said.

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Cocoa tree at Guittard Chocolate in Burlingame, Calif., Feb. 7, 2025.

Amy Guittard and Gary Guittard hold previous cans of chocolate and baking soda at Guittard Chocolate in Burlingame, Calif., Feb. 7, 2025.

It’s a busy afternoon at the Bay Area chocolatier when Amy and her father, company CEO Gary Guittard, greet me in the lobby, which feels like a mini museum. A cacao tree planted in 1986 proudly stands inside the space and is surrounded by black and white photographs on the walls and company memorabilia. Gary walks over to a wooden cabinet storing his grandfather Horace C. Guittard’s floral, porcelain hot chocolate pitcher and matching cups. He points to vintage Guittard tin cans of ground chocolate that are arranged above the cabinet and pauses as he grabs a bright red can that catches his eye.

“That’s the one I grew up with as a kid,” Gary said, holding the can featuring an illustration of a guitar that was once used to delineate Guittard Chocolate from San Francisco’s other legendary confectionery, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.

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Amy Guittard and Gary Guittard at Guittard Chocolate in Burlingame, Calif., Feb. 7, 2025.

Guittard Chocolate in Burlingame, Calif., Feb. 7, 2025.

While both companies had their start in San Francisco........

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