Max Brenner

Max Brenner is a specialty chocolate restaurant and retail brand that began in Israel in 1996, created by Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner. The founders combined their names for the brand, and Oded Brenner brought experience from training with a renowned Parisian chocolatier. The company’s early years focused on handmade chocolate shops in Israel, quickly growing to ten locations by 1999.

A major turning point came in 2000 when Max Brenner opened its first café in Sydney’s Paddington neighborhood. This move marked a shift from retail-only stores to a full chocolate bar concept, blending café dining with chocolate retail. The format resonated strongly in Australia, which remains the company’s largest market. In 2001, Max Brenner became part of the Strauss Group, a leading Israeli food and beverage company, which provided the resources to accelerate international growth. Over the next few years, the brand expanded into Singapore and the Philippines and continued to build its Australian presence.

Max Brenner entered the U.S. market in 2006 with a New York City location, followed by a large-format restaurant at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in 2010. However, U.S. expansion has remained measured, with only two locations operating as of November 2025. In 2013, the company shifted its U.S. strategy to focus on smaller Chocolate Bar formats, opening in Bethesda, Maryland, and Paramus, New Jersey. Internationally, Max Brenner has used licensing agreements to establish a presence in Tokyo and Moscow.

As of November 2025, Max Brenner operates 36 locations worldwide: 24 in Australia, 10 in Israel, and 2 in the United States. The company has maintained kosher certification across all products, appealing to a broad customer base. Ownership now rests with Yaniv Shtanger and Dudu Vaknin.

Over the last five years, Max Brenner has stabilized its global footprint rather than pursuing rapid expansion. The brand is recognized for its chocolate-focused menu, which includes desserts like fondue, crêpes, waffles, and signature hot chocolate, all served in distinctive presentations. Its hybrid model combines experiential dining with premium retail, offering both on-site consumption and take-home products. Max Brenner’s website received a Webby Award in 2014, highlighting its digital presence. The company continues to focus on Australia, Israel, the United States, Japan, and Russia as priority markets, using a mix of company-owned stores and selective licensing to maintain its international reach.