Auro Cafe: From growing cacao to growing a business

Auro founders Mark Ocampo and Kelly Go had always loved food — and chocolate, in particular.

They decided to take that passion further by enrolling in an immersive course at the ZDS Institute in Germany, where they learned chocolate production from industry experts.

Back in the Philippines, they recognized a market gap: despite the country’s 350-year history with cacao, Filipino chocolate had yet to gain the global recognition it deserved. They set out to highlight Davao cacao, and their curiosity, passion, and determination eventually led to the founding of Auro. 

“We wanted to change that by creating a ‘tree-to-bar’ company that empowers local farmers and showcases Filipino craftsmanship,” Mark tells adobo Magazine in an exclusive interview.

Results speak for themselves. Powered by this model and the world-class beans behind it, Auro has claimed 97 international awards, and counting. But beyond the accolades, it has given farmers something even more valuable: a clear, continuous path to growing better beans every single year.

Equally important is how Auro has embraced modern tools to support this ecosystem by integrating platforms like GCash for Business.

This seamless digital approach not only streamlines operations but also ensures that value moves efficiently back to the communities at the heart of their chocolate, reinforcing a model where tradition and technology grow side by side.

“Because of this close collaboration, we are able to consistently secure world-class beans to make proudly Filipino chocolate,” Mark says.

Mark reveals the impact of that switch in this story.

Auro Cafe offers premium homegrown cacao-based products in a cozy and comfortable setting

Run by community programs

Auro runs the organic conversion program, an initiative that steers farmers away from inorganic growing methods and helps them transition to more sustainable practices — guiding them toward achieving “certified organic” status during the conversion period. 

“A lot of times, like when you buy produce from different supermarkets, you have no relationship with the people who grow them. You have no appreciation of where it comes from or for the people who put a lot of effort into producing these products. We really want them to close the gap and bring people closer to the food that they consume.” 

Farmers normally cannot sell their produce as “certified organic” during the transition period, even if they already bear the cost of organic practices. To address this gap, businesses often step in to provide financial support and secure market access until certification is achieved. 

This support for farmers comes in the form of financial assistance or advance payments, technical training and guidance, guaranteed purchase agreements, and premium pricing once certification is achieved. 

“It really opened their eyes to what the possibilities are, and at the same time, helped them connect with the different consumers that we’re currently working with as well,” says Mark.

Mark Ocampo, Co-Founder of Auro Chocolate and Auro Cafe

Crowdfarming is also practiced. Instead of buying produce from stores, people “adopt” a farm, a tree, or a portion of a harvest. In return, they receive fresh produce once it’s ready. 

This business model didn’t come easy, though. The cacao market may be vast, but many farmers have walked away from it because of unfair wages and limited technical skills. This is where Auro stepped in, creating a way to help them find their footing and return to the market. 

“Hence, we established a direct-trade model. We don’t just buy beans; we work closely with our communities, provide constant technical support, and pay above world market prices to elevate their livelihood and empower our farming partners,” Mark reveals. 

Auro Cafe offers a wide variety of cacao-based products

At the core of the direct-trade, crowdfarming model is the idea of turning “passive consumers” into engaged and passionate advocates for agriculture.

“It helps our business by building a community of advocates who are emotionally invested in the success of our partner farms, while simultaneously providing a unique way for us to share the story of Filipino cacao directly with the public.”

Auro helps farmers transition to growing “certified organic” cacao

Going cashless to optimize the business

Before fintech took hold in the Philippine startup scene, Auro had to rely on manual tracking and frequent bank trips — making transactions both time-consuming and mentally taxing. 

“In the beginning, like many startups, we were very cash-heavy and check reliant, especially for business transactions and farmer payouts. It was functional, but not scalable for a brand trying to modernize an entire industry,“ Mark recalls. 

This led to delays in cash flow. At Auro’s factory in Laguna, for instance, operations often had to wait for checks to clear or deal with large amounts of physical cash. Beyond the inefficiency, it also posed security risks and administrative challenges — making real-time accounting nearly impossible, as Mark recalls. 

Then came a digital payment ecosystem designed for businesses. These days, countless establishments in the Philippines utilize GCash for Business as an integral part of their operations.

Auro Cafe enjoys the flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. that GCash for Business offers

Customers and businesses alike have learned to fully embrace the convenience that GCash offers. Auro, for one, enjoys the same flexibility, scalability, and efficiency — something they experienced firsthand after trying GCash for Business solutions at the recent Designer’s Holiday Bazaar.

“By reducing the friction of payment, we increase conversion. It also helps us build a financial footprint that makes auditing and future investments much cleaner,” Mark says. “It allows us to be mobile and at the same time, it keeps our processes more efficient.” 

GCash for Business has streamlined transactions for business owners while enabling real-time tracking. For Mark, it’s all about speed and accuracy — key to keeping Auro operating at a high standard. 

“We realized that to be a world-class brand, our backend needed to be as sophisticated as our chocolate. As we expand internationally and open more local grab-and-go concepts, we need a payment partner that can grow with us,” he says. 

GCash for Business has likewise provided Auro Cafe with a seamless way to digitize payments through GCash SoundPay, which largely contributes to the efficiency of business operations.

PocketPay allows Auro to instantly accept payments via QR codes or cards, at both retail stores and pop-ups.

Built for high-traffic retail spaces, GCash SoundPay offers an easy and adaptable solution that empowers Auro’s staff to efficiently manage operations, accelerate transactions, and maintain a smooth, uninterrupted service even during peak hours.

GCash SoundPay uses an instant voice confirmation for every successful payment, so you can hear it when a customer pays. This easy-to-carry device allows merchants to receive secure, hands-free payment confirmation without having to check their phones, making it ideal for fast-paced retail environments.

This proved especially valuable during the Designer’s Holiday Bazaar, where Auro Cafe experienced a surge of customers eager to discover and purchase its products. With GCash SoundPay in place, transactions remained quick and seamless, allowing the team to keep lines moving and focus on engaging with customers. The result was not just efficient operations, but also a smooth and enjoyable retail experience — showcasing how the right digital tools can elevate both service and brand presence in high-energy event settings.

There’s no guessing how a specific location is performing midday. Numbers are immediately reflected on the GCash for Business Portal. Moreover, GCash for Business offers a centralized portal where business owners can access funds instantly and monitor transactions in real time. 

“It’s a one-stop shop where you can manage all of your transactions and really have a general overview of what it is that you’re doing without having to micromanage or double-check everything.” 

Staying true to one’s values while keeping the business sustainable

Working closely with farmers does more than strengthen Auro Cafe’s supply chain; it keeps Mark rooted in what truly matters. It’s a constant reminder that business success isn’t measured by numbers alone, but by the people working together to turn a shared vision into reality. 

“It actually truly takes a village, and what we are truly proud of is really being able to honor the people that we work with, honor the communities that we work with, treat everyone fairly, and have it be a collaborative process,” he says. 

Auro isn’t just about creating products Filipinos love — it’s about bringing them to more people, globally. 

“We’re ultimately creating better quality products from the Philippines altogether. And of course, bringing Filipino chocolate to the rest of the world.” 

With GCash for Business, this dream has become a reality.

If you are a business owner looking to scale up, signing up on the GCash for Business Portal is as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Create an account on the GCash for Business Portal. You can get started as a merchant using just your verified GCash account of at least 12 months to qualify for a Starter Plan.
2. Order a GCash SoundPay device.
3. Wait for your email confirmation on your GCash SoundPay delivery.

The post Auro Cafe: From growing cacao to growing a business appeared first on adobo Magazine Online.