Fran Bigelow

Fran Bigelow is the founder of Fran’s Chocolates and a pioneering force in the American artisanal chocolate movement. She opened her first shop in Seattle’s Madison Valley in 1982, originally focusing on cakes and pastries. When long holiday lines inspired her to offer freshly made chocolate truffles to waiting customers, those confections quickly became the soul of her business, setting the stage for a brand devoted to purity, craftsmanship, and flavor. 

Fran soon introduced what would become an icon: her soft, buttery chocolate‑covered Salted Caramels, helping define modern fine chocolate. Today, Fran’s Chocolates operates five retail shops, including a location in Kyoto, Japan, alongside a thriving wholesale and e‑commerce business. 

Widely respected for her leadership and community impact, Fran is the author of the award‑winning cookbook Pure Chocolate and a founding member of organizations including Les Dames d’Escoffier Seattle, the Fine Chocolate Industry Association, and the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative. Her chocolates have earned multiple sofi™ Awards from the Specialty Food Association. Still actively involved, Fran now works alongside the next generation—her daughter Andrina and son Dylan—continuing a legacy rooted in excellence and wonder.