Peace by Chocolate

Antigonish Store:
344 Main Street, Antigonish, NS
Halifax Store:
1741 Lower Water St Suite 166, Halifax NS

902-867-0201
support@peacebychocolate.ca

For the Hadhad family, chocolate-making did not begin in Canada. For nearly 30 years, the family produced specialty chocolates in Damascus, Syria, shipping their creations throughout the Middle East and Europe. That business came to an abrupt end in late 2012, when their factory was destroyed during the Syrian conflict. The family fled to Lebanon, where they spent several years as refugees.

Their arrival in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, created an opportunity to rebuild both their lives and their family craft. With support from the local community, the Hadhads returned to chocolate-making. Peace by Chocolate was founded in early 2016, initially operating from a small home-based facility before growing into one of Canada’s most recognizable contemporary chocolate companies.

Rebuilding a Family Chocolate Tradition in Canada

Chocolate was already deeply rooted in the Hadhad family before Peace by Chocolate existed. In Damascus, the family’s business was led by chocolatier Issam Hadhad, whose experience provided the foundation for the company that would later emerge in Nova Scotia.

In Canada, the family combined that Syrian chocolate heritage with a distinctly new chapter. Founder and CEO Tareq Hadhad became the public face of the company, while chocolate-making remained at the centre of the family business.

From a Home Kitchen to a Chocolate Factory

Peace by Chocolate grew rapidly after its 2016 launch. In September 2017, the company opened a larger production facility in Antigonish to meet increasing demand. The company reported in 2024 that the factory had subsequently been expanded three times and had achieved SQF certification, an internationally recognized food-safety and quality standard.

Today, Peace by Chocolate continues to handcraft its products in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Its collection ranges from assorted chocolate boxes and bars to barks, hot chocolate and seasonal creations. Syrian influences remain part of the company’s identity, with the family describing its approach as combining chocolate with ingredients such as nuts, fruit and spices.

At the same time, the company has embraced its Canadian home. Products celebrate Canada and Atlantic Canadian culture, while flavours such as Nova Scotia blueberry connect the collection to the region where the Hadhad family rebuilt its business.

Chocolate with a Social Purpose

The word peace is more than branding for the company. In 2018, the family established the Peace on Earth Society in Nova Scotia to formalize its support for community and peace-building initiatives.

Through the initiative, Peace by Chocolate contributes a percentage of product revenue, provides product support and participates in community projects. Its stated focus is on organizations and initiatives that encourage peace and compassion while helping people facing difficult circumstances.

By early 2024, the company reported that more than $600,000 had been raised for various causes, including assistance for Canadians affected by natural disasters and support for vulnerable youth.

Growing Beyond Antigonish

What began in a small Antigonish kitchen has developed into a much broader Canadian chocolate brand. Peace by Chocolate products are now available through retailers across the country as well as the company’s online store.

The company has also expanded its own retail presence. Along with its original Antigonish store, Peace by Chocolate operates a Halifax waterfront flagship, a boutique at Halifax Stanfield International Airport and a location at Royalty Crossing in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Yet Antigonish remains at the heart of the story. It is where the Hadhad family was given the opportunity to begin again, where its Canadian chocolate company was created and where Peace by Chocolate continues to make its products.

Nearly a decade after its founding, Peace by Chocolate represents an unusual intersection of Syrian chocolate tradition, Nova Scotia entrepreneurship and Canadian community building. Its growth demonstrates how a family craft carried across continents can take root in a new home and become part of Canada’s evolving chocolate identity.

Visit: Peace by Chocolate