# Rustic Chocolatier Hybrids Fumihiko Sano Studio Curates a Space for a Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Brand By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-10-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beantobar-chocolate References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2019/09/22/dandelion-chocolate-cafe-interiors-kyoto/) & [dandelionchocolate](https://www.dandelionchocolate.com/) The bean-to-bar chocolate product entails ties to superior craftsmanship and quality in terms of taste and texture. Dandelion Chocolate is a San Francisco-based maker that deploys its product offerings in small batches which, in turn, add an aura of exclusivity. With the business’ recent expansion to Kyoto, the artisanal bean-to-bar chocolates become even more accessible in Japan. For its new branch, Dandelion Chocolate commissioned Fumihiko Sano Studio who was tasked with curating a welcoming atmosphere that embraced elegance. As a result, the space — which is a hybrid between a café and a shop, is minimalist and sophisticated, with a rustic appeal that reels in consumers. Moreover, the retail space is located in a century-old timber-framed house which contributes to Dandelion Chocolate’s ethos with a sense of local heritage. The furnishing softly inserts itself in this narrative, with subtle hints at contemporary sensibilities. Photo Credits: Dezeen ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.9/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 44% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Bean-to-bar:** Specialty chocolate makers that focus on the bean-to-bar process to ensure superior craftsmanship and quality are bringing an aura of exclusivity to their offerings. - **Rustic Elegance:** A growing trend of retail spaces that embrace a minimalist and sophisticated aesthetic with a rustic appeal is creating disruptive opportunities for businesses to attract consumers through ambiance. - **Local Heritage:** Retail spaces located in heritage buildings with furnishings that hint at contemporary sensibilities are becoming more popular, offering opportunities for businesses to connect with consumers through a sense of place. ### Who This Affects Most - **Specialty Food & Beverage:** Bean-to-bar chocolate makers are part of a larger trend of specialty food and beverage producers that are revolutionizing how we think about food, and offering opportunities for new, small-batch products that can stand out in a crowded market. - **Retail & Hospitality:** The trend of retail spaces that embrace a rustic elegance that is both minimalist and sophisticated is creating opportunities for businesses in retail and hospitality to create unique, welcoming atmospheres for consumers. - **Design & Architecture:** Retail spaces located in heritage buildings, such as the century-old timber-framed house that hosts Dandelion Chocolate's Kyoto shop, offer opportunities for designers and architects to create innovative spaces that blend contemporary sensibilities with local heritage. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Heritage Interior Chocolate Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barnaby-shop.md) - [Cross-Influence Fusion Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/challe-caf.md) - [Seasonal Patisserie Interior](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/season-patisserie.md) - [Japan-Inspired Hybrid Bakeries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/milan-bakery.md) - [Forest-Nestled Poetic Cakeshops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/45-space.md) - [Townhouse Transformed Retail Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/le-labo-kyoto.md) - [Dynamic Layered Interior Cafés](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caf-tondo.md) - [Pared-Back Coffee Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blue-bottle-coffee-shop1.md) - [Artful Limited Chocolates](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ed-ruscha-x-andsons.md)