Our Story

Chocs 'N Boxes, LLC is owned by spouses Gerardo "Gerry" Dean and Sailyn Dean. Gerry is a practicing attorney in Chicago. He started his chocolate journey in January 2016 when he planted 5,000 cacao in his hometown of Calbayog City, Philippines. He had been planting 2,000 cacao seedlings every year since then.  He subsequently attended CHOCOLATE and MODERN CONFECTIONARY classes at Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy of Chicago and completed CHOCOLATE MAKING FROM THE BEAN classes at Ecole Chocolat.

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His wife, Sailyn, is a Registered Nurse by profession.  She trained extensively in a private setting to be a professional CHOCOLATIER under Mr. Yann Migault, a French Master Pastry Chef and Chocolatier. In addition, she completed a Professional Chocolatier Course and a Business Plan for Chocolatier Course at Ecole Chocolat.

The couple decided to open their chocolate shop to realize their common dream and aspiration which revolve around cacao farming, chocolate making, and confections. The shop is located in the Village of Norridge, Illinois.