Figure it out. That’s the story of this week’s Wild Business Growth podcast guest, Katrina Markoff. Katrina is the Founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast platforms, and watch on YouTube.
Episode 362: Katrina Markoff – Top 10 Chocolatier, Violet Flame Chocolate
Katrina Markoff, the Founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and Vosges Haut-Chocolat, joins the show to share her journey from exploring Michelin 3-Star Restaurants to being named one of The 10 Best Chocolatiers in the World. Hear what’s led to the success of her chocolate businesses, behind the scenes of the chocolate-making process, how to scale your 2nd business faster, why you should talk to plants, and the best bite of food Katrina’s ever had. This episode covers everything from El Bulli to Taleggio. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- How many Michelin 3-Star Restaurants has Katrina been to
- Why did she start a chocolate business
- What led to the success of Vosges Haut-Chocolat
- How is Katrina growing Violet Flame Chocolate faster
- Was she named after a superhero
Connect with Katrina at VioletFlameChocolate.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Katrina.Markoff
Enjoy the shoooooow! Check out the show notes below for much more detail. You can also find the full transcript here.
Show Notes
- Intro & Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
- [0:30] Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool
- [0:38] Connect with Katrina at VioletFlameChocolate.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Katrina.Markoff
- [2:26] How many Michelin 3-Star Restaurants has Katrina been to
- [3:07] What got her interested in visiting the world’s top restaurants
- [4:43] Why do these restaurants deserve 3 Michelin Stars
- Chocolate & The Vosges Haut-Chocolat Story
- [7:57] Why did Katrina start a chocolate business
- [10:35] How did she start Vosges Haut-Chocolat
- [14:18] What led to the success of Vosges Haut-Chocolat
- [18:06] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Katrina
- [18:07] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
- [18:09] Such an honor speaking at Podcast Movement ’23 in Denver and Podcast Movement ’26 in NYC! Sign up to grab the slides from my first session at MaxPodcasting.com/PM23
- The Violet Flame Chocolate Story
- [18:26] What are the Chaos Boards or Chaos Chocolate Boards from Violet Flame Chocolate
- [19:40] What is Katrina’s role in the chocolate-making process
- [22:02] How do you scale a chocolate business
- [23:53] How is Katrina growing Violet Flame Chocolate faster
- Rapid-Fire Q&A
- [26:30] Was Katrina named after a superhero
- [27:24] Why should you talk to plants
- [28:10] What’s the best bite of food Katrina’s ever had
- [28:41] What is Taleggio
- [29:18] Connect with Katrina at VioletFlameChocolate.com, on LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Katrina.Markoff
- [29:31] What are Katrina’s Final Thoughts
- [30:28] Follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about the podcast. And show love (or roast me) by leaving 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify
- [30:32] The Wild Business Growth podcast is on YouTube! Subscribe @MaxBranstetter to watch full video interviews with Wild entrepreneurs like Katrina
- [30:35] Check out the Wild Business Growth podcast on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to
- [55:40] Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter (aka X), and Threads @MaxBranstetter and TikTok @WildBusinessGrowth
- [30:41] Save time with your high-quality podcast. Email me at to bring your podcast to life and use it as a business-building tool
- [30:47] Sign up for the Podcasting to the Max newsletter at MaxPodcasting.com/Newsletter and receive How to Edit Your Podcast in Audacity. It’s where podcasting meets entrepreneurship – and terrible puns
- Theme music: Freestyle Percussion Magik – “Jungle Tribe” – provided by Jamendo
What is the Wild Business Growth podcast?
Wild ideas. Wild growth. Every Wednesday morning a new entrepreneur joins the Wild Business Growth podcast to share the wildly creative and unusual ways they grew their business – and teaches you how to do it, too. Hear the minds behind WordPress, Stacy’s Pita Chips, Drybar, NFL RedZone, Big Mouth Billy Bass, the voice of Bart Simpson, and more Wild stories. Hosted by Max Branstetter (that’s me), Founder and Podcast Producer at MaxPodcasting.
How do you start a podcast?
Interested in starting a professional-sounding and professional-looking podcast for your brand, but don’t want to deal with the time commitment of all those behind-the-scenes details? I’ve got you covered. Email me at to save time with your high-quality podcast and use it as a business-building tool.
Thanks for listening to Katrina Markoff on the Wild Business Growth podcast. To hear more Wild stories like this one every Wednesday morning, follow the Wild Business Growth podcast and tell a friend about it. And enjoy a Chaos Board with them. Until next time, Let your business Run Wild…and Bring on the Bongos!!
