Veggie Conquest

Sarah Gross and her rescue, Mocha Photo by: Jessica Mahady

Eating Chocolate can now help save animals! Check out the new Brooklyn based vegan and kosher chocolate company called Rescue Chocolate. Not only are their chocolates OMG-good, every single purchase helps to rescue animals. I had the opportunity to ask the lovely and very sweet Sarah Gross, president of Rescue Chocolate, a few questions. She has some VERY exciting new flavors to reveal!

VC: Tell everyone a little about about Rescue Chocolate.

SG: Rescue Chocolate is an all-vegan chocolate company founded with the mission of saving homeless pets. We donate all net proceeds to animal rescue organizations, and each flavor highlights a specific homeless pet issue to spread awareness about these problems and suggest ways to fix them!

VC: How did you come up with the idea of Rescue Chocolate?

SG: I have been deep into the dark/vegan chocolate world as a side hobby for the last several years. Trying every dairy-free brand and flavor I could get my hands on! So I felt qualified to judge a good chocolate and decide on the very best flavors. The way we treat animals has always been very important to me. I’ve been volunteering at animal shelters since I was 9 years old, and I’ve been vegan for over 10 years. To do something meaningful for animals on a large scale has always been what I’ve felt I am meant to do.

VC: What is your history with chocolate?

SG: In addition to tasting all the vegan chocolate that comes before me [wink wink], I have worked at a raw organic chocolate company, Gnosis Chocolate, for over a year. I developed a flavor there, Fleur De Sel, which is now a permanent fixture of the Gnosis line.

Rescue Chocolate's Peanut Butter Pit Bull

VC: Right now your chocolate flavors are Pick Me Pepper, Peanut Butter Pitbull and Bow Wow Bon Bons. Do you have any more flavors planned?

SG: Foster-rific Peppermint is coming in a few days!! Shortly after, we are unveiling a (vegan!) cream-filled Easter egg!! Hold onto your socks.

VC: WHOA! I am very excited! Pre-vegan days, I would get really excited about the cream filled eggs around Easter… They were my favorites!

VC: You sell your Chocolate in pet stores and other non conventional places to buy chocolate… Why did you choose to sell in these places?

SG: These are definitely untapped chocolate markets. But to me, it just makes sense for a pet owner to get a little treat for her- or himself as she/he purchases pet treats. Often one is frazzled by the time they get to a pet store, and chocolate is a perfect release for this feeling.

VC: There is a list on your website (rescuechocolate.com) of all the places that sell Rescue Chocolate in New York City. Where can people who don’t live in New York City get their hands on these wonderful chocolates?

SG: You can order online at RescueChocolate.com. In San Diego, find us at the store All Vegan. And of course, if you know of a store that RC would be perfect for, tell the owner that you want them to carry Rescue Chocolate! We are gratefully expanding to more and more places with your help!

VC: 100% of the net profits from your chocolates go to animal rescue. There are so many wonderful animal rescue organizations out there, how do you choose who to give to? And who are you giving to?

SG: For January and February 2010 all net proceeds are being donated to the Animal Relief Coalition to Haiti. This was in response to the horrific damage caused by last month’s earthquake. It is a group that we felt needed the funds most at this time. Next month, we will be donating to the United Animal Nations, a group with international relief efforts as well, doing very important work. It is our goal to choose groups that we can ensure the money will go directly to the programs that it will impact the most.

VC: Anything else we should know about Rescue Chocolate?

SG: We are open to all wholesale inquiries and would love to get as many rescue organizations carrying Rescue Chocolate as possible. Not only will rescue groups be able to use it as a fundraiser, but they will be educating the public in a fun (and YUMMY) way.  Also, we love to cater parties!

VC: Yumm vegan chocolate party!