Luxury chocolatier MarieBelle New York is using the holiday gifting window to expand Cacao Market — its accessible everyday line — into Costco warehouses across the New York metro area and New Jersey, with the 50-piece Dark Chocolate Truffles box priced at $21.99. The product is simultaneously available on Costco.com nationwide, and a three-box bundle carrying a $84.00 price point is offered exclusively through the retailer's website.
The Retail Play
The Costco move is a calculated step for a brand that built its reputation on high-end boutique retail. Cacao Market was designed precisely to bridge that gap — bringing MarieBelle's artisan craftsmanship into everyday price territory without stripping the product of its design identity. The truffles are finished with a cocoa dusting over a velvety dark chocolate center, and packaged in the line's signature vibrant geometric boxes inspired by the artwork of Jacques Lieberman. For specialty food buyers and hospitality gifting teams, the Costco placement signals that the brand is actively courting volume channels alongside its boutique footprint in Manhattan and Japan.
"Cacao Market reflects our belief that exceptional chocolate and beautiful design can make everyday moments feel special," said Maribel Lieberman, CEO and Founder of MarieBelle New York. "Bringing our Dark Chocolate Truffles to Costco allows us to introduce more people to high-quality chocolate at a price that makes them perfect for indulging, sharing, or gifting."
Roadshow Sampling Adds Velocity
Beyond shelf placement, Cacao Market is participating in Costco Roadshows — the warehouse club's rotating in-store sampling program — giving the brand a direct consumer touchpoint at participating locations on a weekly basis. That sampling layer matters in the specialty confectionery category, where trial is a primary purchase driver. The boxes are also available through Instacart, extending the reach to delivery-focused shoppers.
The broader premium chocolate segment has benefited from sustained consumer interest in trade-up gifting, particularly during Q4. For foodservice operators and hospitality buyers sourcing amenity gifts or plated dessert accompaniments, club-channel availability at this price-per-piece ratio opens a cost-effective procurement option for a recognizable artisan name. MarieBelle has operated its SoHo flagship since 2001 and produces its chocolates at a Brooklyn factory using globally sourced ingredients — provenance details that carry weight in upscale hospitality sourcing decisions.
The limited-time nature of the warehouse placement adds urgency for buyers: product is available while supplies last at participating locations, making early-season procurement the practical move for anyone planning holiday programming. Operators tracking premium confectionery and gifting trends in food and beverage will want to note how a heritage luxury brand uses a club-retail partnership to scale volume without diluting brand equity — a model that continues to gain traction across the specialty food space.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
