Meet Red Thalhammer | Creative Director & CEO Antidote

We had the good fortune of connecting with Red Thalhammer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Red, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It was less a thought process, it was an impulse for an idea followed by an obsession to make it happen:

I was running a boutique design studio and things got difficult when the 2009 recession hit and I felt out of sync, as jobs fell through and gone were the vibrant times, replaced by stress for survival, questions and doubt about the future. In search for work, someone suggested to meet a man in the neighborhoood. We became friends. Every time I felt stressed, I would go to his house to smoke a cigarette. We would play with words and one evening I sent him a text apologizing for my moodyness in a playful way. He sent me back a text saying, “Don’t worry, I make an antidote to that”. It got me thinking, what would it be if people had an Antidote to blues and such? Until I finally got to sleep, I kept wondering what shape or form such an antidote could be that counteracts manners of blues and emotional affliction? The next morning I woke up with the idea….chocolate (!)…which is a super food, would be the Antidote! Something that takes you on an adventure when you need it, something that feeds your superpowers.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We create artisanal chocolate that makes you feel good.

1) LOVE: Antidote bars are loaded with cacao that is rich in antioxidants and feel good nutrients that triggers massive endorphine release in the brain. Chocolate that loves you back.

2) HIGHLY CREATIVE: Creativity is in our DNA. We create innovative flavors, using “new-in-chocolate” ingredients and have been pioneering unique flavors over many years, like our latest “anise + tomato” and “sesame + seaweed” bars.
Presented in beautiful packaging to uplift & inspire visually and with a story to it.

3) ADVENTUROUS: Antidote is born from an adventurous spirit of exploration, fused with cross-cultural influences of ingredients and spices and courageous women entrepreneurship to further inspire others to be daring.

4) HEALTHY PLEASURE: We focus on high cacao and less sugar. We also have amazing 100% cacao 0 sugar bars. Food can be your medicine and delicious treat – at the same time.

5) SUSTAINABLE life cycle: Real ingredients (never any alternatives) Direct Trade with our cacao farmers, chocolate made in the country of cacao and It’s good for you. That is sustainable well being for all involved.

Antidote sells in hundreds of specialty and grocery stores nationwide and via our online shop. It is currently featured in Oprah Magazine.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well I’m a little new here myself. I moved from NY to Miami Beach in late 2021 and thus I may not be the most experienced tour guide 😉 I usually include visitors into my routine – coming to Soho House Club once a week, meeting friends in the morning at Rosetta Lincoln Rd or Sunnyside cafe. I would take them to dinner at Layla, Mila and have lunch at Under the Mango Tree once a week. Take them to the Design District for Window shopping which I love for the calm, clean and beautiful experience and have plenty of beach walks / runs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I”m grateful to have so many supportive friends. I would like to give a shouout to my two creatives that have supported Antidote in the last years with imagery; Victoria Granof – director and food stylist at large, and Ester Masciocchi, an art director and food stylist.

Right now I’m reading “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown, and I highly recommend it especially for anyone running a business. Amazing read and powerful messages.

Website: https://antidotechoco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antidotechoco/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=ANTIDOTE%20chocolate&sid=3H7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntidoteChoco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AntidoteChoco/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Antidotechocolate

Image Credits
Portrait: Maria Nova Product Shots Styling and Photo: Ester Masciocchi