Garudafood takes Chocolatos to global MotoGP stage with Gresini Racing deal

Indonesian packaged food and beverage brand Chocolatos is taking its brand further into international markets through a sponsorship deal with BK8 Gresini Racing, putting its identity across the team's MotoGP assets for two seasons.

The Garudafood-owned brand first announced the partnership in February and is now activating it ahead of the MotoGP event at Mandalika, Indonesia, from 9 to 11 October. The deal makes Chocolatos the first Indonesian packaged food and beverage brand to become an official sponsor of BK8 Gresini Racing, as well as the first Southeast Asian brand in its category to partner with the team.

The partnership is built around Chocolatos' platform, "Uplift your mood, level up your journey", which the brand is using to connect its consumer proposition with the challenges, energy and progression associated with motorcycle racing.

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“This partnership is rooted in the shared spirit between Chocolatos and BK8 Gresini Racing. For us, a journey is not only about achieving a goal, but also about enjoying every step along the way. It's just like racing, where every lap toward the finish line brings its own challenges and energy,” said Fransiskus Johny Soegiarto, commercial director of Garudafood.

“This is the spirit we want to bring to life through ‘Uplift your mood, level up your journey.’ For us, this partnership is also part of a long-term effort to expand Chocolatos’ relevance and build a stronger connection with consumers through new experiences, both in Indonesia and in broader markets.”

For Chocolatos, MotoGP offers a route to take an Indonesian consumer brand into an international sporting environment. Garudafood says Chocolatos is currently present in more than 20 countries, with a focus on markets including Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The brand is using the partnership to tap into MotoGP's international fan base, which it puts at 632 million globally as of 2025, while giving Gresini Racing an opportunity to strengthen its connection with Indonesian and Southeast Asian audiences.

“For us, this partnership brings together two journeys driven by a similar spirit: continuous growth, overcoming challenges, and moving to the next level. BK8 Gresini Racing has a strong connection with Indonesia and sees significant potential across Southeast Asia. Together with Chocolatos, we want to build a closer connection with Indonesian audiences while creating new experiences for racing fans,” said Carlo Merlini, commercial and marketing director of Gresini Racing.

The partnership gives Chocolatos visibility across Gresini Racing's race bike livery, riders' racing leathers, pit-box panels, operational vehicles and hospitality facilities.

The brand is also linking the sponsorship to Gresini's current rider line-up, Alex Márquez and Fermín Aldeguer, using their different career stages to reinforce the campaign's focus on progress and continuous improvement.

“In racing, every journey comes with its own challenges and moments. There are times when we need to stay focused and maintain our energy, times to enjoy with the team, and times to celebrate the results we achieve,” said Alex Márquez.

“For me, Chocolatos’ ‘Level up your journey’ spirit is closely connected to the journey of being a rider, because every race is an opportunity to learn, grow, and keep getting better.”

The MotoGP partnership is the latest step in Chocolatos' nearly two-decade evolution from a chocolate wafer stick launched in 2007 into a broader food and beverage brand.

Its portfolio has expanded to include Chocolatos Rich, a coated wafer stick positioned in the premium segment, alongside Chocolatos Ready-to-Serve sachets, Ready-to-Drink bottles and Chocolatos Pillow. The brand has also expanded its consumer experiences beyond products, including Chocolatos X-Quest, an immersive LED-based 5DX attraction at Garudafood's factory in Sumedang, West Java.

Niken Esti, brand equity director of Garudafood, said the Gresini Racing partnership builds on this broader effort to keep the brand relevant as consumer preferences evolve.

“Chocolatos’ journey has been built on the courage to continuously innovate and grow, while understanding the different moments consumers experience. That is why we see this partnership as an opportunity to bring that spirit into a broader experience. We want consumers to find moments to enjoy, recharge their energy, and go further at every level of their journey,” she said.

With the Mandalika race providing a major local touchpoint for the sponsorship, Chocolatos is positioning MotoGP not simply as a branding platform but as a vehicle for taking an Indonesian consumer brand into a wider international conversation.

The two-season partnership will run through the 2026 and 2027 MotoGP seasons.

Discover what's next in Indonesia's fast-moving digital landscape at DMA Indonesia 2026 on 13 October in Jakarta, where marketing leaders will explore how AI, creator ecosystems, social commerce, and omnichannel strategies are reshaping customer engagement and business growth.

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