| May 2007 News |
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May 30, 2007 - DeBrand has a neat little deal. Purchase $50 worth of their chocolates and you can buy a
"Chocolate Lover" T Shirt for half price. Just enter SUMMERTEE2007 as the promo code at checkout. This offer ends
June 15th. Yahoo India News reports that actor Orlando Bloom had weight issues as a child and was so addicted to
chocolate that his mother had to have him hypnotized in order to break the addiction. Hershey, Pennsylvania is
racing for record crowds this year as Hershey celebrates the 100th Birthday of the Hershey Kiss and Hershey Park.
Hershey has also unveiled a new $21,000,000 Boardwalk which should add to the excitement. The Stoweflake
resort in Vermont was the home to the first Chocolate Show held in the state. Local chocolate makers exhibited their
products along with companies like Belgium's Mary's Chocolates. Taste Of Home magazine sponsored a contest
for the best cupcake. The winner was Mary Bilyeu of Ann Arbor, Michigan for her cupcake that has four types of
chocolate and brewed coffee.
May 29, 2007 - The school year is winding down and DeBrand has a nice item to say "Thank You" for that special
teacher in your child's life. They are a milk chocolate apple filled with a mixture of caramel and pecans and are the
size of a standard apple. The government of Ghana has been investigating reports of child labor in the cocoa fields
and has issued a report . The report finds that most of the child labor takes place on family farms and they find that
some of the work children do such as lifting heavy loads and being exposed to pesticides is dangerous. They do
find most of the child labor takes place on weekends and that most children are registered and attending school.
Lindt is introducing a new product which is an extension of their product line in dark chocolate. It's a line of
chocolate 70 per cent cacao content bar shells with a mousse center. The bars come in orange, cherry chili and
chocolate mousse flavours. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on East Chicago Street in Naperville, Illinois
has been participating in a program with Naper Elementary, and the Downtown Naperville Alliance that allows kids
the opportunity to learn about the business. The kids shadow employees and help in making product. Researchers
from the City University, Madrid, and the University of Barcelona have issued a report where they have found that the
husks from cocoa production can be used as a source of fiber. The fiber material is high in anti oxidants and could
be useful in the making of chocolate cake and other products that require bulk.
May 28, 2007 - It looks like everyone is interested in purchasing the soft drink arm of Cadbury Schweppes USA. At
least 12 private equity firms have shown some sort of interest and it looks like two different consortiums have will be
bidding. Cadbury Schweppes produces the Dr. Pepper and 7UP lines among many others. Barry Callebaut, the
Swiss chocolate maker, is switching to renewable energy sources for its plant in Wieze, Belgium. The Wieze
processing facility, the companies largest, will get its power from a 35-megawatt installation from the company
Electrawinds. The biofuel plant will function by burning stearin a byproduct of palm oil refining.
May 27, 2007 - Thomas Linemayr, president of Lindt & Sprungli USA stated that increased demand by American
consumers has led to Lindt's US expansion. The Lindt facility in Stratham, New Hampshire is undergoing a 300,000
square foot expansion. The new building has 20 + shipping docks and allows Lindt to better serve their customers.
Blocks of chocolate that weigh a ton are imported from Switzerland and then melted down to make Lindt's product
line. Speaking of Lindt share prices in the company rose when rumours started that Cadbury might reinvest the
money they'll receive from selling off their US soft drink business to purchase Lindt. Cadbury won a victory in
Australian court this week when their suit against Darrell Lea was brought back to life in Federal Court. In Melbourne
three Federal Court judges ruled that when the suit was initially dismissed the judge erred by not allowing expert
testimony. Cadbury has claimed that Darrell Lea appropriated the color purple associated with Cadbury and has
been using it in an attempt to confuse consumers and to cash in on Cadbury's reputation for quality product.
Switzerland-based machinery manufacturer Buhler has introduced their FlexiStamp system to streamline
production by making chocolate shells through cold stamping. Plaisir du Chocolat the highly regarded Edinburgh,
Scotland chocolate shop run by Bertrand Espouy may yet survive its recent financial difficulties. The shop being
overseen by PriceWaterhouseCoopers while it is in administration may have a buyer who would keep it open. The
future of the Nestlé Rowntree plant in York, England seems a little more secure after 1,800 unionized workers voted
in a recent election to agree to a sweeping plan that changes the way the plant does business. The plant which
produces Aero bars will stay in operation. Amano Artisan Chocolate is weighing in with their position on the recent
FDA and what defines chocolate dust up. Amano sides with those who feel the current system is Okay and don't
want to see the current guidelines diluted. You can read Amano's Press Release here.
May 25, 2007 - We apologize for being off line for a few days. We had some server problems which took awhile
to fix and we will catch up on all of the newest chocolate and confectionary news in the next few days.
A Tulane University doctoral candidate has released his newest research. Arman Sadeghpour the candidate has
found an extract of cocoa may be a natural alternative to fluoride. The extract helped harden tooth enamel in tests on
animals and if his research is correct it would be the first major innovation to toothpaste since most manufacturers
started adding fluoride in 1914. Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia is holding a contest to choose an animal for them
to make the largest chocolate statue in Malyasia's history. The statue is being made to celebrate Malyasia's 50th
Anniversary and will be six feet in size. The Chamber Of Commerce of Oakdale California has announced that they
will keep on holding their annual Chocolate Festival even though Hershey is moving their local factory to Mexico. This
year will be the towns fifteenth festival and the last while Hershey is still located in the town. Masterfoods, makers of
Mars products in England, has backed down on their decision to add rennet, a product from calve's stomachs, to
their products. The sizable vegetarian community mobilized and Masterfoods was soon being barraged by over
6,000 phone calls a day as well as a petition signed by 40 members of Parliament. The company has apologized
and their will be no animal products in their chocolate products. The San Francisco Chronicle has a fascinating
article about two companies different experiences with Internet advertising. On one hand Lake Champlain reports a
great deal of success with their pay per click plan but on the other hand Charles Chocolates makers of artisanal
chocolates in Emeryville, California had to abandon their plan when it didn't produce the results they were hoping for.
May 19, 2007 - Thieves in the Kirkby area of Liverpool, England made off with a trailer filled with $276,000 of
Cadbury Flakes bars. Local police are asking for people to be aware of the missing chocolate. The Aero Bar has
been popular in England for years and now it looks like American chocolate makers are going to start pumping air
into their bars. The Bubble Chocolate Company out of Abington, Pennsylvania is releasing three different bars milk,
dark and coffee milk. They describe the bars as "bubbles wrapped in chocolate". Hershey also has scheduled for
release a Reese's Whipps which will have fewer calories due to all the air pumped into it. Green & Blacks the
organic chocolate makers have entered the ice cream business with organic ice cream. They've released three
flavors dark chocolate, vanilla, and white chocolate with strawberry.
May 18. 2007 - Burton's Foods, the second largest biscuit maker in the United Kingdom, has announced they will
be closing their factory in Moreton, Wirral, England. The company was purchased by Duke Street Capital earlier this
year and the new owners are making the company more competitive. The factory currently makes Cadbury chocolate
biscuits. The Gulf Coast Kid's House in Florida raised over $30,000 with its Chocolate Fest 2007. Nineteen local
restaurants provided the eats for hundreds of area residents. Number 10 Jersey Street , here in Manhattan, was
home to the Hawley & Hoops factory which started up in the late 1800s. The factory for many years made chocolate
cigarettes and cigars. The property has recently been renovated and is now the newest branch of the New York
Public Library. Lindt & Sprungli has a new line, Creation 70%, a Dark Chocolate, Mousse-Filled Bar Line. The bars
come in three different flavors chocolate mousse, Cherry Chili and Orange. You can read the Press Release here.
The French Pastry School in Chicago will be the place that hundreds of culinary professionals who will be
competing May 19th for a chance to move up in the World Chocolate Masters sponsored by Barry Callebaut. You can
read the Press Release here.
May 17, 2007 - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. has declared a dividend of ten cents a share for the first
quarter pf 2007 payable June 15th to shareholders of record on June 1, 2007. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Inc. has also announced a buyback of $5,000,000 or 350,000 shares. Over the last 7 years they have repurchased
3,000,000 shares at an average price of $4.47 a share. Luxury chocolate-maker Plaisir du Chocolat from Scotland
has been put into administration. No one argues that they produce a high quality product but they ran out of cash and
they are hoping after reorganization to make the operation more efficient. Hershey is closing yet another plant, there
last in Canada. 580 employees at the Dartmouth, Canada operation will be let go by December. Christopher Curtin
proprietor of Éclat Chocolate, has started making three different items for the Franklin Institute exhibit
"Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs." One is a chocolate King Tut head that works in gold leaf along
with the chocolate. He also produces a winged scarab and hieroglyphic chocolate shards. The items will be
produces concurrently with the exhibit which closes September 30, 2007.
May 16, 2007 - In Utah all is well in the artisan chocolate market. Many of the states chocolate experts , there are
more than we realized, weigh in with their feelings about the current state of the market. A new study estimates that
dark chocolate sales in the United states have increased 49% between 2003 - 2006. Consumers are catching on to
the wide range of tastes available and are also focussing on dark chocolates health benefits. Winans , an Ohio
chocolate firm, has undergone some expansion through franchising over the last few years. They are up to eight
stores two of which are located in Oklahoma. This article has lots of interesting information about the Oklahoma
chocolate market. It's fun to read about developing products. Granville, Ohio is the home of The Readers Garden
Bookstore owner Jo Ann Geiger. In an attempt to increase revenues in her bookstore Ms. Geiger and her husband
created Josie Posie Snaps. The Snaps are cookies and they have taken off in her local market. We here at
eChocolateNYC wish her all the best and hope to be able to try the cookies some day when they become available
here in New York. D'Kawi Chocolate from Malaysia is looking to expand into the African and Middle East markets.
They expect to export 2,000 metric tons to both areas this year. They have found an increase in sales since they
displayed their wares at Gulf-Food 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Third Graders at Pope Elementary School
in Jackson, Tennessee are learning fractions a new way. They break Hershey bars down into smaller pieces and
then relate the pieces to fractions. Hershey provided a book to help the teacher present the lesson.
May 15, 2007 - Vosges Haut - Chocolat has two exciting announcements. The first is the release of their first peanut
butter product, peanut butter bon bons. The bon bons are made from organic fresh pressed peanut butter, pink
Himalayan salt, Fleur de Sel salt and deep milk chocolate. They come 9 pieces for $35. The second announcement
is Vosges has received organic certification and will be switching over existing products to organic starting with their
caramel collection. Vegetarians in Great Britain may soon start boycotting products from Masterfoods makers of the
Mars bar, Maltesers, Snickers and Twix among others. Masterfoods has switched to less expensive animal derived
whey. Whey which contains rennet an enzyme found in the stomachs of calves. It can be replaced by a vegetarian
friendly rennet produced from molds but that alternative is much more expensive. Hershey has been forced to revise
its trading expectations as it has to factor in it's growth in deal making over the last few months and the increases in
dairy and cocoa prices.
May 10, 2007 - Food From Britain (FFB) has released a report stating that English firms are enjoying growth in the
export of sweets to the Gulf States. There are 650,000 visits from the UK to Dubai yearly as well as 115,000
expatriates living in The United Arab Emirates. Chocolate is also becoming more popular among the residents of
the area which is also helping to fuel growth. Scharffen Berger has teamed up with Peet's Coffee to bring a new
drink " The Freddo" to market. The drink is composed of Peet's Major Dickason's coffee, Scharffen Berger cocoa
powder, caramel and then the whole thing is topped with whipped cream, drizzled caramel and chocolate shavings.
Check this link as you can print out a two for the price of one coupon that is good through Monday, May 14, 2007.
The link also has a picture of the drink which looks great. Hershey has launched a new website that covers much of
the world of chocolate. The site allchocolate.com is a tremendous resource for anyone interested in chocolate and
is loaded with recipes and product information. If your here in New York City on Thursday, May 17th you might want to
attend the Vosges tasting event. Vosges Haut Chocolat is always doing something worth taking a look at. On the
17th from 7 - 9 pm they will be tasting truffles from the Les Fleurs du Chocolat collection. This assortment
combines red rose petals, purple orchids, yellow marigolds and orange nasturtiums with dark, milk and white
chocolate. There will also be wine served as well as hibiscus pomegranate martinis, party favors and a tarot card
reader. At $30 a ticket it sounds like a great time and well worth it. Give them a call at 212.625.2929 to reserve tickets.
May 5, 2007 - Wrigley posted a 17% rise in sales worldwide last year. The company topped $1.6 billion in sales
and even though sales in the USA were slow the company experienced solid growth in developing markets.
Revenues in Asia were up a solid 23% and the company had real growth in the Middle East and parts of Europe.
Scientists in Spain are reporting development of a new process to make cocoa powder with eight times the levels of
some flavonoids linked to chocolate's beneficial effects.
May 4, 2007 - On May 3rd we wrote about the Mulia Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia and the chocolate handbags they are
selling. Each of these links are of a photo of the workers making of these handbags. Phillips Candy House,
Boston's oldest chocolatier, is supporting Rosie's Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women. For every
signature chocolate covered cherry sold in the month of May a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Rosie's
Place. A photo of Nestle chocolate bars on sale in Beijing , China. A photo of some different chocolate products on
sale at a grocery store in New Delhi, India. Len Libby Chocolates in Scarborough, Maine has a 1,700 pound
chocolate moose on display. Billed as the worlds only life sized chocolate moose it was made 10 years ago.
Nestle has released the results of a new study that finds chocolate texture can be affected by the type of gas used in
producing the chocolate. Chocolates made with argon and nitrogen were judged to have different properties than
chocolates made from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Nestle UAE has recalled Kit Kat Chunky Caramel bars as
bits of plastic may have mixed into the chocolate. Scientists working for the Australian army are working on
modifying chocolate so that it can last longer and maintain its vitamins in higher temperatures. The scientists are
replacing some of the fats with other fats that have higher melting points. If you're going to be anywhere near the
Gulf Coast of Florida on May 12th you may want to take a look at Chocolate Fest being held at the Cordova Mall.
There will be activities for kids as well as the opportunity to sample wares from 20 different restaurants. The
Hershey plant in Oakdale, California will be closing. The production of Hershey syrup and Hershey kisses with
almonds will be moved to Pennsylvania and the production of Hershey miniatures will be moved to Mexico. A very
nice looking recipe for chocolate strawberry shortcake. The closing of the Hershey plant in Oakdale, California will
not only affect its 575 employees but will also affect milk producers in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The plant
used large quantities of local milk which will now have to be sold elsewhere.
May 3, 2007 - Clay County District Court in Iowa was the scene of a dismissal of a lawsuit over a spilled cup of hot
water that was supposed to be used to make hot chocolate. Marilyn Conway went through a Burger King drive
through in Spencer, Iowa in December 2003. She ordered a cup of hot chocolate and was given a cup of hot water
along with the powder to mix herself. The cap on the cup came loose causing hot water to burn her foot. The judge
ruled against her and she has until May 18th to appeal. The BBC weighs in with an updated report on the use of
child labor on cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast. Conditions for many of the children are bad and implementation
of the Harkin-Engel protocol which many of the industries biggest companies signed in an effort to ameliorate some
of the suffering has been slow. Hersheypark is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. They've added a
Boardwalk that overlooks their water park attractions. The Boardwalk will open May 26th and has a Nathans to give it
that Coney Island feel. The Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia is offering a range of chocolate based products that are
somewhat unique. They are selling a line of handbags, literally made of chocolate, for $100 - $400 each. The bags
only last a week or two but have become quite popular as gifts. The bags are decorated with floral motifs. The Hotel
is also selling a range of chocolate cosmetics such as compact powders, lipsticks, blushes, nail polish, eye
shadow and mouth spray.
"Chocolate Lover" T Shirt for half price. Just enter SUMMERTEE2007 as the promo code at checkout. This offer ends
June 15th. Yahoo India News reports that actor Orlando Bloom had weight issues as a child and was so addicted to
chocolate that his mother had to have him hypnotized in order to break the addiction. Hershey, Pennsylvania is
racing for record crowds this year as Hershey celebrates the 100th Birthday of the Hershey Kiss and Hershey Park.
Hershey has also unveiled a new $21,000,000 Boardwalk which should add to the excitement. The Stoweflake
resort in Vermont was the home to the first Chocolate Show held in the state. Local chocolate makers exhibited their
products along with companies like Belgium's Mary's Chocolates. Taste Of Home magazine sponsored a contest
for the best cupcake. The winner was Mary Bilyeu of Ann Arbor, Michigan for her cupcake that has four types of
chocolate and brewed coffee.
May 29, 2007 - The school year is winding down and DeBrand has a nice item to say "Thank You" for that special
teacher in your child's life. They are a milk chocolate apple filled with a mixture of caramel and pecans and are the
size of a standard apple. The government of Ghana has been investigating reports of child labor in the cocoa fields
and has issued a report . The report finds that most of the child labor takes place on family farms and they find that
some of the work children do such as lifting heavy loads and being exposed to pesticides is dangerous. They do
find most of the child labor takes place on weekends and that most children are registered and attending school.
Lindt is introducing a new product which is an extension of their product line in dark chocolate. It's a line of
chocolate 70 per cent cacao content bar shells with a mousse center. The bars come in orange, cherry chili and
chocolate mousse flavours. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory on East Chicago Street in Naperville, Illinois
has been participating in a program with Naper Elementary, and the Downtown Naperville Alliance that allows kids
the opportunity to learn about the business. The kids shadow employees and help in making product. Researchers
from the City University, Madrid, and the University of Barcelona have issued a report where they have found that the
husks from cocoa production can be used as a source of fiber. The fiber material is high in anti oxidants and could
be useful in the making of chocolate cake and other products that require bulk.
May 28, 2007 - It looks like everyone is interested in purchasing the soft drink arm of Cadbury Schweppes USA. At
least 12 private equity firms have shown some sort of interest and it looks like two different consortiums have will be
bidding. Cadbury Schweppes produces the Dr. Pepper and 7UP lines among many others. Barry Callebaut, the
Swiss chocolate maker, is switching to renewable energy sources for its plant in Wieze, Belgium. The Wieze
processing facility, the companies largest, will get its power from a 35-megawatt installation from the company
Electrawinds. The biofuel plant will function by burning stearin a byproduct of palm oil refining.
May 27, 2007 - Thomas Linemayr, president of Lindt & Sprungli USA stated that increased demand by American
consumers has led to Lindt's US expansion. The Lindt facility in Stratham, New Hampshire is undergoing a 300,000
square foot expansion. The new building has 20 + shipping docks and allows Lindt to better serve their customers.
Blocks of chocolate that weigh a ton are imported from Switzerland and then melted down to make Lindt's product
line. Speaking of Lindt share prices in the company rose when rumours started that Cadbury might reinvest the
money they'll receive from selling off their US soft drink business to purchase Lindt. Cadbury won a victory in
Australian court this week when their suit against Darrell Lea was brought back to life in Federal Court. In Melbourne
three Federal Court judges ruled that when the suit was initially dismissed the judge erred by not allowing expert
testimony. Cadbury has claimed that Darrell Lea appropriated the color purple associated with Cadbury and has
been using it in an attempt to confuse consumers and to cash in on Cadbury's reputation for quality product.
Switzerland-based machinery manufacturer Buhler has introduced their FlexiStamp system to streamline
production by making chocolate shells through cold stamping. Plaisir du Chocolat the highly regarded Edinburgh,
Scotland chocolate shop run by Bertrand Espouy may yet survive its recent financial difficulties. The shop being
overseen by PriceWaterhouseCoopers while it is in administration may have a buyer who would keep it open. The
future of the Nestlé Rowntree plant in York, England seems a little more secure after 1,800 unionized workers voted
in a recent election to agree to a sweeping plan that changes the way the plant does business. The plant which
produces Aero bars will stay in operation. Amano Artisan Chocolate is weighing in with their position on the recent
FDA and what defines chocolate dust up. Amano sides with those who feel the current system is Okay and don't
want to see the current guidelines diluted. You can read Amano's Press Release here.
May 25, 2007 - We apologize for being off line for a few days. We had some server problems which took awhile
to fix and we will catch up on all of the newest chocolate and confectionary news in the next few days.
A Tulane University doctoral candidate has released his newest research. Arman Sadeghpour the candidate has
found an extract of cocoa may be a natural alternative to fluoride. The extract helped harden tooth enamel in tests on
animals and if his research is correct it would be the first major innovation to toothpaste since most manufacturers
started adding fluoride in 1914. Cadbury Confectionery Malaysia is holding a contest to choose an animal for them
to make the largest chocolate statue in Malyasia's history. The statue is being made to celebrate Malyasia's 50th
Anniversary and will be six feet in size. The Chamber Of Commerce of Oakdale California has announced that they
will keep on holding their annual Chocolate Festival even though Hershey is moving their local factory to Mexico. This
year will be the towns fifteenth festival and the last while Hershey is still located in the town. Masterfoods, makers of
Mars products in England, has backed down on their decision to add rennet, a product from calve's stomachs, to
their products. The sizable vegetarian community mobilized and Masterfoods was soon being barraged by over
6,000 phone calls a day as well as a petition signed by 40 members of Parliament. The company has apologized
and their will be no animal products in their chocolate products. The San Francisco Chronicle has a fascinating
article about two companies different experiences with Internet advertising. On one hand Lake Champlain reports a
great deal of success with their pay per click plan but on the other hand Charles Chocolates makers of artisanal
chocolates in Emeryville, California had to abandon their plan when it didn't produce the results they were hoping for.
May 19, 2007 - Thieves in the Kirkby area of Liverpool, England made off with a trailer filled with $276,000 of
Cadbury Flakes bars. Local police are asking for people to be aware of the missing chocolate. The Aero Bar has
been popular in England for years and now it looks like American chocolate makers are going to start pumping air
into their bars. The Bubble Chocolate Company out of Abington, Pennsylvania is releasing three different bars milk,
dark and coffee milk. They describe the bars as "bubbles wrapped in chocolate". Hershey also has scheduled for
release a Reese's Whipps which will have fewer calories due to all the air pumped into it. Green & Blacks the
organic chocolate makers have entered the ice cream business with organic ice cream. They've released three
flavors dark chocolate, vanilla, and white chocolate with strawberry.
May 18. 2007 - Burton's Foods, the second largest biscuit maker in the United Kingdom, has announced they will
be closing their factory in Moreton, Wirral, England. The company was purchased by Duke Street Capital earlier this
year and the new owners are making the company more competitive. The factory currently makes Cadbury chocolate
biscuits. The Gulf Coast Kid's House in Florida raised over $30,000 with its Chocolate Fest 2007. Nineteen local
restaurants provided the eats for hundreds of area residents. Number 10 Jersey Street , here in Manhattan, was
home to the Hawley & Hoops factory which started up in the late 1800s. The factory for many years made chocolate
cigarettes and cigars. The property has recently been renovated and is now the newest branch of the New York
Public Library. Lindt & Sprungli has a new line, Creation 70%, a Dark Chocolate, Mousse-Filled Bar Line. The bars
come in three different flavors chocolate mousse, Cherry Chili and Orange. You can read the Press Release here.
The French Pastry School in Chicago will be the place that hundreds of culinary professionals who will be
competing May 19th for a chance to move up in the World Chocolate Masters sponsored by Barry Callebaut. You can
read the Press Release here.
May 17, 2007 - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc. has declared a dividend of ten cents a share for the first
quarter pf 2007 payable June 15th to shareholders of record on June 1, 2007. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Inc. has also announced a buyback of $5,000,000 or 350,000 shares. Over the last 7 years they have repurchased
3,000,000 shares at an average price of $4.47 a share. Luxury chocolate-maker Plaisir du Chocolat from Scotland
has been put into administration. No one argues that they produce a high quality product but they ran out of cash and
they are hoping after reorganization to make the operation more efficient. Hershey is closing yet another plant, there
last in Canada. 580 employees at the Dartmouth, Canada operation will be let go by December. Christopher Curtin
proprietor of Éclat Chocolate, has started making three different items for the Franklin Institute exhibit
"Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs." One is a chocolate King Tut head that works in gold leaf along
with the chocolate. He also produces a winged scarab and hieroglyphic chocolate shards. The items will be
produces concurrently with the exhibit which closes September 30, 2007.
May 16, 2007 - In Utah all is well in the artisan chocolate market. Many of the states chocolate experts , there are
more than we realized, weigh in with their feelings about the current state of the market. A new study estimates that
dark chocolate sales in the United states have increased 49% between 2003 - 2006. Consumers are catching on to
the wide range of tastes available and are also focussing on dark chocolates health benefits. Winans , an Ohio
chocolate firm, has undergone some expansion through franchising over the last few years. They are up to eight
stores two of which are located in Oklahoma. This article has lots of interesting information about the Oklahoma
chocolate market. It's fun to read about developing products. Granville, Ohio is the home of The Readers Garden
Bookstore owner Jo Ann Geiger. In an attempt to increase revenues in her bookstore Ms. Geiger and her husband
created Josie Posie Snaps. The Snaps are cookies and they have taken off in her local market. We here at
eChocolateNYC wish her all the best and hope to be able to try the cookies some day when they become available
here in New York. D'Kawi Chocolate from Malaysia is looking to expand into the African and Middle East markets.
They expect to export 2,000 metric tons to both areas this year. They have found an increase in sales since they
displayed their wares at Gulf-Food 2006 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Third Graders at Pope Elementary School
in Jackson, Tennessee are learning fractions a new way. They break Hershey bars down into smaller pieces and
then relate the pieces to fractions. Hershey provided a book to help the teacher present the lesson.
May 15, 2007 - Vosges Haut - Chocolat has two exciting announcements. The first is the release of their first peanut
butter product, peanut butter bon bons. The bon bons are made from organic fresh pressed peanut butter, pink
Himalayan salt, Fleur de Sel salt and deep milk chocolate. They come 9 pieces for $35. The second announcement
is Vosges has received organic certification and will be switching over existing products to organic starting with their
caramel collection. Vegetarians in Great Britain may soon start boycotting products from Masterfoods makers of the
Mars bar, Maltesers, Snickers and Twix among others. Masterfoods has switched to less expensive animal derived
whey. Whey which contains rennet an enzyme found in the stomachs of calves. It can be replaced by a vegetarian
friendly rennet produced from molds but that alternative is much more expensive. Hershey has been forced to revise
its trading expectations as it has to factor in it's growth in deal making over the last few months and the increases in
dairy and cocoa prices.
May 10, 2007 - Food From Britain (FFB) has released a report stating that English firms are enjoying growth in the
export of sweets to the Gulf States. There are 650,000 visits from the UK to Dubai yearly as well as 115,000
expatriates living in The United Arab Emirates. Chocolate is also becoming more popular among the residents of
the area which is also helping to fuel growth. Scharffen Berger has teamed up with Peet's Coffee to bring a new
drink " The Freddo" to market. The drink is composed of Peet's Major Dickason's coffee, Scharffen Berger cocoa
powder, caramel and then the whole thing is topped with whipped cream, drizzled caramel and chocolate shavings.
Check this link as you can print out a two for the price of one coupon that is good through Monday, May 14, 2007.
The link also has a picture of the drink which looks great. Hershey has launched a new website that covers much of
the world of chocolate. The site allchocolate.com is a tremendous resource for anyone interested in chocolate and
is loaded with recipes and product information. If your here in New York City on Thursday, May 17th you might want to
attend the Vosges tasting event. Vosges Haut Chocolat is always doing something worth taking a look at. On the
17th from 7 - 9 pm they will be tasting truffles from the Les Fleurs du Chocolat collection. This assortment
combines red rose petals, purple orchids, yellow marigolds and orange nasturtiums with dark, milk and white
chocolate. There will also be wine served as well as hibiscus pomegranate martinis, party favors and a tarot card
reader. At $30 a ticket it sounds like a great time and well worth it. Give them a call at 212.625.2929 to reserve tickets.
May 5, 2007 - Wrigley posted a 17% rise in sales worldwide last year. The company topped $1.6 billion in sales
and even though sales in the USA were slow the company experienced solid growth in developing markets.
Revenues in Asia were up a solid 23% and the company had real growth in the Middle East and parts of Europe.
Scientists in Spain are reporting development of a new process to make cocoa powder with eight times the levels of
some flavonoids linked to chocolate's beneficial effects.
May 4, 2007 - On May 3rd we wrote about the Mulia Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia and the chocolate handbags they are
selling. Each of these links are of a photo of the workers making of these handbags. Phillips Candy House,
Boston's oldest chocolatier, is supporting Rosie's Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women. For every
signature chocolate covered cherry sold in the month of May a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Rosie's
Place. A photo of Nestle chocolate bars on sale in Beijing , China. A photo of some different chocolate products on
sale at a grocery store in New Delhi, India. Len Libby Chocolates in Scarborough, Maine has a 1,700 pound
chocolate moose on display. Billed as the worlds only life sized chocolate moose it was made 10 years ago.
Nestle has released the results of a new study that finds chocolate texture can be affected by the type of gas used in
producing the chocolate. Chocolates made with argon and nitrogen were judged to have different properties than
chocolates made from carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Nestle UAE has recalled Kit Kat Chunky Caramel bars as
bits of plastic may have mixed into the chocolate. Scientists working for the Australian army are working on
modifying chocolate so that it can last longer and maintain its vitamins in higher temperatures. The scientists are
replacing some of the fats with other fats that have higher melting points. If you're going to be anywhere near the
Gulf Coast of Florida on May 12th you may want to take a look at Chocolate Fest being held at the Cordova Mall.
There will be activities for kids as well as the opportunity to sample wares from 20 different restaurants. The
Hershey plant in Oakdale, California will be closing. The production of Hershey syrup and Hershey kisses with
almonds will be moved to Pennsylvania and the production of Hershey miniatures will be moved to Mexico. A very
nice looking recipe for chocolate strawberry shortcake. The closing of the Hershey plant in Oakdale, California will
not only affect its 575 employees but will also affect milk producers in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The plant
used large quantities of local milk which will now have to be sold elsewhere.
May 3, 2007 - Clay County District Court in Iowa was the scene of a dismissal of a lawsuit over a spilled cup of hot
water that was supposed to be used to make hot chocolate. Marilyn Conway went through a Burger King drive
through in Spencer, Iowa in December 2003. She ordered a cup of hot chocolate and was given a cup of hot water
along with the powder to mix herself. The cap on the cup came loose causing hot water to burn her foot. The judge
ruled against her and she has until May 18th to appeal. The BBC weighs in with an updated report on the use of
child labor on cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast. Conditions for many of the children are bad and implementation
of the Harkin-Engel protocol which many of the industries biggest companies signed in an effort to ameliorate some
of the suffering has been slow. Hersheypark is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. They've added a
Boardwalk that overlooks their water park attractions. The Boardwalk will open May 26th and has a Nathans to give it
that Coney Island feel. The Mulia Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia is offering a range of chocolate based products that are
somewhat unique. They are selling a line of handbags, literally made of chocolate, for $100 - $400 each. The bags
only last a week or two but have become quite popular as gifts. The bags are decorated with floral motifs. The Hotel
is also selling a range of chocolate cosmetics such as compact powders, lipsticks, blushes, nail polish, eye
shadow and mouth spray.