How Lab Cocoa was born: A tale of Chocolate, two grandkids & 3 am Ideas

Lab Cocoa wouldn’t be the wild, chocolatey wonderland it is today without its delightful monsters, edible creations, and the wonderfully creative minds behind it—especially Trace, with a little help from some very imaginative friends! and the start how Lab Cocoa was born...

It all started five years ago, right in the middle of COVID. With two curious grandchildren

(Flo and Ivy ) constantly asking to make chocolate, Trace found herself stuck with the same old boring moulds… and that’s when Lab Cocoa was born.

Ideas flew, moulds were bought, chocolate was melted—but it still wasn’t quite exciting enough.

Trace knew she needed more. She wanted to find artists that would inspire not just her, but her granddaughters, Flo and Ivy, and future customers too.

After hours of exploring online, Trace stumbled across the incredible MrBarghest on Instagram (@mrbarghest (https://www.instagram.com/mrbarghest/?igsh=MWprODFnZDFkNDlrcg%3D%3D)).

His spooky, quirky style instantly struck a chord. They ordered a few pieces, and even commissioned custom cartoon versions of their beloved pets! That connection sparked the idea that would change everything: custom chocolate monsters.

From there, the Lab Cocoa world exploded into life—full of edible creatures, artistic experiments, and endless imagination.

And that… was just the beginning. 💥🍬🐌 thank you Brian!

Bert Chocolate Monster (right clay version , Left Chocolate ) Created by Mr Barghest

The tale continued ...

From day one, we designed all our own logos and posts—DIY style, just like our chocolate monsters! But as Lab Cocoa grew, we wanted something a little more polished… something that truly reflected our personality while still keeping that fun, quirky magic.

So, back to Instagram we went—on the hunt for an artist who just got us.

That’s when we discovered Yasmin (@yasmin.cousins (https://www.instagram.com/yasmin.cousins/?igsh=d291aGRraThqeW1y))—or as we first knew her, the Ice Cream Lady! Her playful style and love for our weird and wonderful ideas made her the perfect fit.

Yasmin instantly connected with our vision and set to work creating a brand-new logo that brought Lab Cocoa to life in a fresh, bold way. And she didn’t stop there—she’s now the magical mind behind so many of the creations we dream up (often at 3 a.m. 😅).

Thanks to Yasmin, Lab Cocoa has never looked so shiny, weird, and wonderful. 💖🍦👾

Lab cocoa Logo Designed by Yasmin

Now, five years on:

Lab Cocoa’s creative journey has beautifully merged and evolved. What began with simple clay moulds and chocolate creations has blossomed into a vibrant world of art — from quirky images to pin badges, keyrings, and even water bottles. Each new venture reflects the same playful spirit and passion that started it all. So, what’s next for Lab Cocoa? Whatever it is, you can be sure it will be as imaginative, delicious, and delightfully unexpected as ever. Stay tuned — the adventure is just getting started!