Top Chocolatier With Oprah & Martha Stewart Ties Brings Company to Rhode Island to Elevate Edibles
GoLocalProv News Team and News Editor Kate Nagle
Top Chocolatier With Oprah & Martha Stewart Ties Brings Company to Rhode Island to Elevate Edibles
Born and raised in Denmark, where he received his culinary degree, Knipschildt came to the United States more than twenty years ago to cut his teeth in the New York restaurant scene.
It was his chocolate confections, however, where he truly shined — and garnered the attention of celebrities.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I started my chocolate company when I was 24,” said Knipschildt, who now resides in Connecticut. “Back then — this was 25 years ago — there was limited artisan chocolate in the U.S. I got a lot of press considering I didn’t have money for marketing. People tasted them and thought they were incredible.”
He counted among his early fans Oprah Winfrey (“I was in her magazine multiple times,” said Knipschildt) and Martha Stewart.
“Martha Stewart got a peek of my chocolates, and after that, I was pretty much her chocolate bitch,” laughed Knipschildt, who appeared on Stewart's show and in her catalog.
Fast forward twenty years, and a chance meeting at a dinner between Knipschildt and Rhode Islander Chris Morgan that led to his newest creation — “Fritzzerland.”
Morgan, along with longtime friend Matt Resnick, had already established the CBD Center of Rhode Island, and were eyeing the THC market and the full-scale legalization of cannabis in the state and region.
This week, GoLocal spoke with Knipschildt and Resnick about the new edible cannabis match — made in chocolate.
“Fritzzerland was officially established in February 2023,” said Resnick, who said that along with Morgan, saw the “underserved” side of the edible market.
“What we saw was that it was cultivator first — we saw that essentially people were selling [edible] products based on THC content and its effects, and a lot of the cannabis is lower grade, using cannabis distillate, for example," said Resnick. "It might have a strong effect, but basically, it’s a low-cost thing.”
Resnick said that how cannabis is used in making the “Fritzzerland” chocolate concoctions is just one of the aspects he believes sets it apart.
“We utilize only the finest ingredients and cannabis rosin,” said Resnick, of partnering up with OP Pharm in Rhode Island for production. “It’s a completely chemical-free and solvent-free extract. It’s top shelf. So it's not going through harsh processing. It’s natural and clean.”
“We were fortunate to be working with Fritz and his expertise — Fritz has thrived in unique [flavor] combinations. When we entered the market, we tried all the chocolate, and they were pretty terrible. So Fritz came around, and we asked him what we should be going out with," said Resnick.
"We started with four bars. One was milk chocolate caramel sea salt. He’s known as one of the first to merge those ingredients," said Resnick. "We also had milk chocolate marshmallow pop rock; we had dark chocolate vegan blueberry and dark chocolate toffee pretzel; then we expanded with a white chocolate celebration bar.”
Now, Fritzzerland is getting into bonbons.
“We now have peanut butter and jelly cups. It’s like a traditional peanut butter cup, but he’s got a cranberry jelly inside, and the cannabis is inside the jelly in that one,” said Resnick. “We have a caramel espresso bon bon — Fritz makes some of the best caramel around — and then a cherry bon bon cordial. It’s a cherry lovers delight. And we’re now getting into the gummy space.”
And Knipschildt travels to Rhode Island weekly, said Resnick, to work with them on the company and production.
“Fritz is not your traditional celebrity chef where he points fingers. He’s here and literally covered in chocolate,” said Resnick.
For Knipschildt, the labor-intensive production process is not just one of love, but quality and reputation.
“When I met Chris and then Matt, I’d been with other companies getting into edibles, and I realized that what's out there for lack of better word is crap,” said Knipschildt. “Those edibles are not elevated. You might get high, but it can’t be satisfactory to put that in your mouth.”
For Knipschildt, Resnick, and Morgan, it’s all about an “elevated” experience.
“Our [profit] margins might not be great for that reason...but we want to be true to who we are,” said Knipschildt.
You can currently find Fritzzerland products at the state’s cannabis retailers and follow them on Instagram here.