Veteran-Owned Bee Coco Candle Earns Illinois Made Honor and Best Gift Shop Title While Turning Sales into Support for Homeless Veterans
GENEVA, IL — In fewer than two years since opening its doors on Geneva's historic State Street, Bee Coco Candle has earned two major honors—the 2025 Illinois Made Maker designation from the Illinois Office of Tourism and the 2026 Best Gift Shop in Kane County title from the Kane County Chronicle Readers Choice Awards. But for this veteran-owned company, the awards are only part of the story. At the heart of the business is a Give Back collection that channels proceeds toward homeless veterans and local community organizations, turning every candle purchase into an act of service.
The Illinois Made program, awarded by the Illinois Office of Tourism, recognizes businesses across the state that demonstrate exceptional quality, authenticity, and meaningful local impact. Being selected places Bee Coco Candle among a curated group of makers and artisans who represent the best of what Illinois has to offer. The Best Gift Shop in Kane County honor, determined entirely by community readers, further validates the deep connections the company has built with its neighbors.
Those connections are strengthened by the company's mission-driven approach. The Liberty Charity Candle, a centerpiece of the Give Back collection, donates 100% of profits from every Liberty candle sold and directs support toward The Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton, IL, helping address a crisis that affects tens of thousands of former service members on any given night in America, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Saint Collection donates $5 from every candle sold to St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva, supporting local institutions that form the backbone of community life.
The products themselves reflect the same care and intentionality. Every Bee Coco Candle is hand-poured in small batches using a premium coconut-apricot wax blend that is completely soy-free and free from parabens, phthalates, and other harmful toxins. The fragrances are infused with essential oils and are Prop 65 compliant, meeting one of the nation's strictest safety standards. Lead-free cotton wicks contribute to a cleaner, more even burn, and the pet-conscious formulation means families with cats and dogs can enjoy their candles without worry.
Sustainability is built into the product design as well. The minimalist jars are intentionally crafted for reuse, encouraging customers to repurpose them long after the wax has burned away, reducing waste and aligning with the values of environmentally conscious shoppers.
The combination of award-winning craftsmanship and a genuine give-back mission has helped Bee Coco Candle carve out a distinctive position in the growing clean candle market. Consumers today are increasingly looking beyond price and fragrance; they want to know who they are buying from, what values that company holds, and where their money ultimately goes. Bee Coco Candle answers all three with clarity.
As demand for non-toxic home products continues to grow nationwide, Bee Coco Candle is positioned to meet that need with transparency, quality, and purpose. From its flagship storefront at 308 W. State Street in downtown Geneva, the company now reaches customers across the United States, all while staying rooted in the community and causes that inspired its founding.
"We started this business because we believed families deserve to know exactly what they are burning in their homes," Francis added. "But we also believed that a business could be a force for good. These awards are humbling, but the real reward is knowing that every candle we pour supports something bigger than ourselves."
About Bee Coco Candle
Bee Coco Candle is a veteran-owned, family-operated artisan candle studio located in Geneva, Illinois. It specializes in hand-poured, non-toxic candles made with a premium coconut-apricot wax blend that is soy-free, paraben-free, and phthalate-free. The company is a 2025 Illinois Made Maker, was voted the 2026 Best Gift Shop in Kane County, and operates a Give Back collection supporting homeless veterans and local community organizations.
Contact
Website: https://www.beecococandle.com/
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