Date:  March 29, 2018  |   Story: Tiffany Adams  |   Photography: Beth Hall  |  

In an approach they describe as “bean-to-bar and beyond,” Bentonville’s Markham & Fitz Chocolate Makers uses fair-trade sourced cacao beans from their partner farmers in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, and Nicaragua to create their confections, which—as you can see—are not limited to chocolate bars. Their commitment to these relationships and the ones they create with customers in the shop are two of the ways they “celebrate people” every day.

Meet the chocolatiers | Lauren Blanco and Preston Stewart are the brains and brawn behind Markham & Fitz.They dream up the menu, prepare the treats (including pastries, sipping chocolate, and eight different types of chocolate bars), and serve the array of goodies in-store six days a week.

Their mission | Make Amazing Chocolate. Celebrate People.

How they got their name |Two family members inspired the Markham & Fitz moniker: Lauren’s Aussiedoodle dog, Fitz, and Preston’s oldest son, whose middle name is Markham. “They’re both 4 years old; they both inspire us to stay lighthearted, and it just had a ring to it!” Lauren says.

How to get your chocolate fix |Stop by the store or shop online to have chocolate bars, cocoa tea, and sipping chocolate shipped to your door.