RALPH
LEROY
After fashion, the designer creates Makaya Chocolates and adds a new string to his bow by becoming a master chocolatier.
Ralph Leroy is an eclectic man.
Haitian by birth and Montrealer by adoption, this versatile designer and jewelry creator has made a name in Montreal's exclusive fashion scene. Since his first men's collection in 2009, he has consistently showcased new collections. In 2015, with growing recognition, he reconnected with Haiti, his source of inspiration, and opened his loft studio there.
From fashion to chocolate, it was just one step.
Ralph Leroy first stepped into the fashion world in 2009, invited by the Montreal Chocolate Show to create fashion shows with chocolate accessories, a tradition he continued until 2013. Returning to Haiti, the land of cocoa, he transformed his aesthetic inspiration into a passion, making chocolate an obvious choice. Leroy was determined to make chocolate.
The encounter with the planters in the North,
A few steps from Cap-Haïtien, his birthplace, marked a turning point. At the FECCANO cooperative, he discovered the world of producers. "The planters grounded me. I realized I had to choose between the fantasy of fashion and the real world of land and cocoa." Determined to add value to the product of over 3,600 small planters and improve quality, he faced the challenge: "Why not make chocolate in Haiti, despite local beliefs that it can only be made in Europe?"
July 2016 marked the birth of Makaya Chocolates.
Very busy with his fashion studio, Ralph Leroy simultaneously set up a lab in Delmas, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. He entrusted a biochemist with its setup, but the designer had to take matters into his own hands and learn the craft on the job. First selection of cocoa beans, first roasting: his first production was successfully unveiled at the Gourmet Village of Goûts et Saveurs in September 2016.
Ralph Leroy, Master Chocolatier.
Having taste and talent is not enough for his ambitions. Ralph Leroy believes better knowledge can improve Haitian chocolate and benefit cocoa producers. He spent six months in Europe learning techniques and developing recipes featuring Haitian cocoa and exotic fruits. He also trained in Trinidad to master "bean to bar" production.
Restoring the prestige of cocoa in Haiti.
In addition to introducing a new product to an untapped market, the artisan chocolatier aims to develop a new profession in Haiti and collaborate with planters to improve cocoa cultivation and selection, elevating Haiti's product to "fine cocoa" status globally. He also plans to establish a chocolate factory in northern Haiti to enhance the commodity's nutritional and taste values within the country.
Makaya Montréal, the 2023 adventure.
In September 2023, Ralph Leroy brought the fruit of his Haitian passion back to his adopted country: chocolate. The first "Salon du Chocolat" was set up on the banks of the Lachine Canal to introduce Quebecers and their visitors to the unique flavors of Haitian cocoa and coffee, surrounded by delicacies inspired by the world over.