North Carolina

Raleigh chocolate company named one of the best in the country by USA Today readers

You can’t really go wrong with any of Videri’s artisanal chocolate bars or truffle assortments.
You can’t really go wrong with any of Videri’s artisanal chocolate bars or truffle assortments. jleonard@newsobserver.com

A popular chocolate factory in Raleigh has been named among the top 10 chocolate shops in the country.

Videri Chocolate Factory ranked No. 6 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

This is the second consecutive year that the company has been in the top 10. In 2023, Videri came in ninth place.

“We are so excited that our fans, friends and relatives from around the country voted for our little downtown Raleigh chocolate factory,” Sam Ratto, Videri’s founder, said in an email to The News & Observer. “We are proud that Videri is a space for everyone who is interested to learn about chocolate making, taste our bean to bar chocolate or sip on a Videri mocha at the Black & White Coffee Roasters counter.”

A panel of experts nominated chocolate shops they thought stood out from the rest, and 10Best editors narrowed down the nominees to a list of 20. Readers take it from there, voting for their favorite shops.

Asheville’s French Broad Chocolate was the only other North Carolina store to make the list of 20 finalists, but the store did not end up in the top 10.

In its description of the downtown Raleigh chocolate store, USA Today mentioned Videri’s factory tours and cafe, where visitors can enjoy coffees, milkshakes and soft-serve ice cream, along with chocolate bars and bonbons.

Videri’s factory is located at 327 W. Davie St. The chocolate shop has also been recognized at the Good Food Awards, which celebrate the best craft and gourmet products from small makers across the country.

Videri Chocolate Factory is located in the Raleigh Depot building in downtown Raleigh.
Videri Chocolate Factory is located in the Raleigh Depot building in downtown Raleigh. Juli Leonard jleonard@newsobserver.com

The best chocolate shops in the country

  1. Pizzelle’s Confections: Huntsville, Alabama
  2. Piety and Desire Chocolate: New Orleans, Louisiana
  3. Saratoga Chocolate Co.: Saratoga Springs, New York
  4. Chocolat Uzma: Chicago, Illinois
  5. LaRue Fine Chocolate: Greenville, South Carolina
  6. Videri Chocolate Factory: Raleigh, North Carolina
  7. Bon Bon Bon: Hamtramck, Michigan
  8. Mon Aimee Chocolat: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  9. Eldora Chocolate: Albuquerque, New Mexico
  10. Ragged Coast Chocolates: Westbrook, Maine

Other award-winning Triangle businesses

Videri Chocolate Factory isn’t the only local company to be recognized by USA Today’s 10Best.

This year, Andia’s Ice Cream was ranked No. 8 out of the 10 best indie/local ice cream shops in the country, The News & Observer previously reported. Like Videri, it was Andia’s second-consecutive time to be included in the list. Last year, the shop ranked No. 4.

Andia’s has three Triangle locations in Cary and Raleigh, and a fourth shop is expected to open this summer at Durham’s The Can Opener.

Also last year, Two Roosters came in eighth place. The ice cream shop has five locations across Raleigh, Durham and Wake Forest.

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This story was originally published July 8, 2024 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Raleigh chocolate company named one of the best in the country by USA Today readers."

Renee Umsted
The News & Observer
Renee Umsted is a service journalism reporter for The News & Observer. She has a degree in journalism from the Bob Schieffer College of Communication at TCU. 
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