Mary Leonard '79
Owner | Founder
B.E.S. '76 ( College of Liberal Arts)
B.S. '79 (College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences)
Alumni Association Member
About Chocolat Celeste
Mary believes that the University of Minnesota provided her with the ideal community within which she could test her passion for science, gain entrepreneurial traction, and cultivate her limitless curiosity. After undergrad work in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, she explored the world of business and marketing while refining her understanding and skill in design and the fine art of chocolate, ultimately creating the world-acclaimed, award-winning Chocolat Céleste. She has raised the bar for hand-crafted confections and you can find her at her website or at her store just off of University Avenue at 652 Transfer Road, Suite 16A, St. Paul.
An entrepreneur at heart, Mary Leonard dreamed of founding a food business since age 16. In 2001 her dream came true. Through a golden opportunity, Mary was able to concentrate on her real passion: starting a business. Chocolat Celeste was born!
Mary has been recognized as one of the top ten emerging chocolatiers in America and she received top honors for design from the International Chocolate Salon. Chocolat Celeste has been featured numerous times in the local media and in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and USA Today.
From the beginning, Chocolat Celeste has used only fresh ingredients from local farms; imported European chocolate, and never, ever any preservatives. The resulting artisanal chocolates are of a caliber usually available only by direct shipment from Europe.
Address
652 Transfer Road
Suite 16A
St. Paul, MN 55114
Contact
About Mary
Mary believes that the University of Minnesota provided her with the ideal community within which she could test her passion for science, gain entrepreneurial traction, and cultivate her limitless curiosity. After undergrad work in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, she explored the world of business and marketing while refining her understanding and skill in design and the fine art of chocolate, ultimately creating the world-acclaimed, award-winning Chocolat Céleste. She has raised the bar for hand-crafted confections.
