About Us

1929 was a difficult and challenging time as the world witnessed the beginning of an economic downturn that would affect many nations for years to come.  However, as the Great Depression got underway another type of challenge was facing Don Pedro Cortés Forteza, a young and industrious Puerto Rican willing to make sacrifices to improve his prospects for the future. It took a great deal of conviction, commitment and vision to look past the troubles of the time and recognize the potential of the Caribbean cacao bean.  He was convinced that the industrialization of its cultivation could change the lives of many and that the ideal location for his brave idea was on the island nation of the Dominican Republic.

Don Pedro was just such a man. In a leap of faith and as a symbol of his dedication to the dream of elevating Caribbean cacao to a position of respect and envy around the world,  Don Pedro re-located to the Dominican Republic, founded Cortés Hermanos Chocolate Cortés. and began producing chocolate products that proudly bore his name;

By 1931 Don Pedro had begun to export Chocolate Cortés to the neighboring island of Puerto Rico.  As soon as the opportunity presented itself he seized it and also began manufacturing on the island of Puerto Rico. The two island endeavors shared many things in common, not the least of which was the exemplary work ethic, the determined discipline and the enviable leadership demonstrated by our founder.  Don Pedro nurtured these qualities in all of us, converting them into traditions that permeate the quality of our products and the dependability of our customer service still today and have helped to maintain a dynamic and eventful history of success.

In 1952 Don Pedro's son, Don Ignacio Cortés del Valle successfully expanded the scope of business to include International markets with semi-processed cacao products while simultaneously increasing the variety of consumer products manufactured and distributed by the company.

Today we are the leading cacao processor in the Dominican Republic with more than 50 product varieties. Our diverse collection of best selling flavors and sizes continues to satisfy the collective sweet tooth of our Dominican consumers.

Equally successful on the sister island of Puerto Rico, Sucesores Pedro Cortés, Inc continues to produce a wide variety of chocolate products which are an important part of the Island's culinary culture and which allow us to enjoy a leadership position there.

Currently we export our brands to the Hispanic market in the United States, the Caribbean Basin and Spain.  We manufacture private brands and export to leading companies in the United States and the Caribbean Basin. In addition we export cacao beans and semi-processed cacao products to the United States, Europe, Central and South America.

Four generations of the Cortés family have proudly continued the traditions established by Don Pedro Cortés Forteza.  We are the largest processor of cacao products in the Caribbean Basin and we actively support cacao bean production in the Dominican Republic through financing, technical assistance, excellent pricing and services to local cacao harvesters.

We play an important role in both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in creating and maintaining a highly motivated and technologically trained workforce. Our employees are experts in the cultivation of cacao and are highly qualified to process and export our products.  We are proud that the extended Cortés family works together harmoniously while maintaining the highest professional ethics.

With six thousand metric tons of cacao beans processed per year, Cortés is the undeniable market leader in the Caribbean Basin. We are dedicated to the leadership of our industry, and we continually develop new products under the strictest International quality standards to satisfy evolving consumer tastes.

Today we are a family company with a global presence.  Four generations of the Cortés family have proudly built on Don Pedro's groundwork. We learned from the example of our forbearers to face each day intent on improving ourselves and our business.     The Aztecs recognized chocolate as "food of the gods"; it is a noble and earnest commitment to chocolate's divine quality that binds us all to a common cause of quality.