Ghirardelli Chocolate Company

The company was founded by and is named after Italian chocolatier Domenico Ghirardelli,[1] who, after working in South America, moved to California.

After doing some prospecting, Ghirardelli opened a general store in Stockton, California, offering supplies and confections to fellow miners.

However, in September of the same year, Ghirardelli used his remaining assets to open the Cairo Coffee House in San Francisco.

This business venture proved unsuccessful, and Ghirardelli opened a new store, named Ghirardely & Girard,[6] on the corner of Washington and Kearny Streets in San Francisco.

By 1855, a larger manufacturing facility was needed, and so the factory was moved to the corner of Greenwich and Powell Streets, while the office remained at the previous location.

By that time, the company not only sold chocolate, but also coffee and spices to the United States, China, Japan, and Mexico.

[2] Since the 1960s Ghirardelli has also moved to focus on a restaurant division by selling ice cream sundaes, complete with their famous hot fudge chocolate sauce.

In one of their earliest menus from the 1960s they featured five "Nob Hill Sundaes" all named after different landmarks, historical aspects, or local figures from San Francisco (Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Banana Split, Strike it Rich, The Rock, and the Emperor Norton).

[9] As of 2024, they feature 11 different sundaes (World Famous Hot Fudge, Ocean Beach, Chocolate Lovers, Gold Rush, Mint Bliss, Strawberry Passion, Non-Dairy Hot Fudge, Cookie Crumble, Lands End, Golden Gate Banana Split, and Treasure Island).

Based on these results, As You Sow filed notices with over 20 companies, including Ghirardelli and Trader Joe's, for failing to provide the legally required warning to consumers that their chocolate products contain cadmium, lead, or both.