Oklahoma Stories

A sweet sensation

June 2025

Bedré Fine Chocolate celebrates 25 years

At Bedré Fine Chocolate in Davis, the scent of rich cocoa hits you the moment you step through the door. The machines are whirring, chocolates are being hand-
finished and wrapped and tucked behind the scenes is Kay Colbert leading a team of managers and departments — answering emails, directing retail updates and planning the company’s biggest milestone yet.

“It’s crazy. Every week is crazy,” Colbert says with a laugh. “But we’ve got a lot of exciting things going on right now and it’s all worth it.”

As general manager and head chocolatier, Colbert is at the heart of Bedré’s operations. She’s leading the charge as the company celebrates 25 years under the ownership of the Chickasaw Nation. What started as a small chocolate business in Ada has grown into a modern, nationally distributed brand, yet it still holds tight to its local roots and tribal identity.

Later this year, Bedré will reveal a revamp of its retail space. A standout feature of the refresh will be a life-size replica of a cacao tree, specially crafted to show visitors what the plant behind their favorite treat looks like.

“Most people have never seen a cacao tree,” Colbert says. “We wanted something that could really connect people to the origin of chocolate. Something real and memorable.”

Colbert has helped shape that kind of experience at Bedré since stepping into leadership more than a decade ago. She quickly found a passion for the product, and more importantly, the people behind it.

“This place is about more than chocolate,” she says. “It’s about opportunity. It’s about community. Every job here means something.”

The Chickasaw Nation purchased Bedré Fine Chocolate in 2000 with a vision to grow a sustainable business that would support local economic development. Today, Bedré’s products are sold in boutiques, tourist destinations and stores across the country. Still, the company remains firmly rooted in the state, employing 36 hard-working Oklahomans while investing in the surrounding community.

“We’re creating something with purpose,” Colbert says. “We want people to enjoy our chocolate, but we also want them to know where it comes from, who it supports, and why it matters.”

That sense of purpose is evident in every product. Flavors are thoughtfully crafted, and quality is consistently high. Seasonal specialties and Oklahoma-themed items keep the lineup fresh.

There are two main types of products Bedre makes. The first is a molding line — that’s anything poured into a mold, like a boot, a cowboy hat, the shape of Oklahoma, candy bars or meltaways, which are little squares with fillings like caramel, peanut butter or strawberry.

The second process is enrobing — coating items in chocolate.

“That’s where we cover things like cookies, pretzel rods or knots, potato chips, even strawberries,” Colbert says. “We’re not running everything all the time, but it gives us a lot of flexibility.”

One of Bedré’s newest partnerships is with Not Your Average Joe, a mission-driven coffee company based in Oklahoma that provides employment opportunities for differently abled individuals with intellectual and developmental needs. What started with just four employees has grown to 10 storefronts and a team of 300 — half of whom, as founder and executive director Tim Herbel proudly says, “have superpowers.”

Not Your Average Joe has also gained national recognition for its high-quality coffee. The company features some of the best roasters, baristas and tasters in North America. It’s a brand known not just for doing good — but for doing good coffee, exceptionally well.

“Roasting for Bedré is something we take seriously,” Herbel says. “We dial in the roast based on what they’re looking for — they collaborate with us on the flavor profile they want and we tailor it to that. We’re excited to partner with Bedré and showcase how good their chocolate really is.”

Delma Barnum, a People’s Electric Cooperative
member, was a part of the company’s beginnings. She worked on the original label design and set up the first retail shop and has enjoyed seeing the changes and growth.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing the Chickasaw Nation has done,” Barnum says. “They took it to a level the original owner always dreamed of. People think of the chocolate as exquisite.”

The 25th anniversary is more than just a celebration — it’s a turning point. With a growing national presence, a loyal following and big ideas for the future, Colbert sees this moment not as a finish line but as the next chapter. For Colbert, it all comes back to impact. Yes, the chocolate is top shelf. But the real reward, she says, is knowing it means something.

“This job is a privilege,” she says. “Every day, I get to be part of something that brings joy, builds community and reflects the strength of the Chickasaw Nation. That’s what makes Bedré special.”