The Coco Moka Café Story

Coco Moka Café is the second specialty retail concept to be launched by Candy Express Franchising, Inc. (the “Company”). The Company, founded in March of 1988, also operates gourmet chocolate and candy stores under the brand name Candy Express throughout the U.S. in malls, airports, and train stations.

In the late 1990’s, to increase morning traffic at Candy Express stores (“nobody eats a Snickers  at 9 AM”), the prototype of what would eventually become Coco Moka Café was designed with a coffee barista operation featuring Seattle’s Best Coffee, and a coffeehouse/confectionary shop was opened in Vancouver, Canada.  Two years later, Macy’s West caught wind of the concept and came calling. They asked if the concept could be expanded to include soup, salads, and sandwiches, gelato ice cream, and a full selection of cheesecakes and pastries.  These and other product components were incorporated and the first Coco Moka Café was launched at Macy’s Sacramento, CA.