St Vincent Cocoa Company expands into European market

After 18 months of producing Vincentian Chocolate, the St Vincent Cocoa Company is expanding into the European market, and will this Friday May 18, launch their line in the United Kingdom (UK).Managing Director, Andrew Hadley announced at a press conference at the company’s headquarters at Beachmont last Friday, that Vincentian Chocolate will be rebranded as ‘Islands Chocolate’.

“We believe the time is now right to expand into the European market. So I am pleased to announce that we will be launching at a prestigious event, televised by ITV, the UK’s largest commercial channel. This is quite an honour, for only two other companies were invited alongside ourselves, both of them are far larger than us.

Our new brand will be called ‘Islands Chocolate’. In addition to the 72 per cent [chocolate], we will be introducing two other bars; 85 per cent extra dark chocolate and 80 per cent with Cocoa Nibs. In time, we expect to have many others, and our factory is already experimenting with locally produced ingredients such as coconut, mango and my favourite – Sunset Rum and Raisin,” Hadley said.

The managing director explained that in preparation for the ‘Islands Chocolate’ launch on Friday, one tonne of chocolate was sent to the UK last month, and a quarter of it has already been pre-sold.

He explained that the rich quality of Vincentian Chocolate is a hit in the UK, especially the 80 per cent with Cocoa Nibs and that Prestat, who hold the Royal warrant, have used Vincentian Chocolate to make the Queen’s Easter egg for two consecutive years.

Hadley explained that each wrapper of the ‘Islands Chocolate’ will feature St Vincent and the Grenadines as well as a farmer, manager or some part of chocolate manufacturing, in order to bring greater awareness to the country.

He also announced the first shipment of cocoa beans to the UK this week.“…Such is the quality of St Vincent cocoa, our European buyers are willing to pay a significant premium, at over three times the world price,” Hadley said.He explained that St Vincent and the Grenadines is one of few producers of very high quality chocolate made from cocoa beans we grow ourselves.

“Most chocolate is either made by the large manufacturers such as Barry Callebaut, who dominate the market, or by smaller chocolatiers who buy from the large manufacturers like Barry Callebaut, and re-temper the chocolate, and remake it and re-brand it as their own.

Then there are a few who buy in beans to make their chocolate. So we are one of the very few in the entire world making chocolate from beans grown and produced on our lands in St Vincent,” the Managing Director said.Minister of Agriculture, Saboto Caesar congratulated the St Vincent Cocoa company on its success explaining that since its startup in 2014, it has so far succeeded in all of its promises.

He said the company’s success has greatly improved the agricultural sector in St Vincent, as with 200 persons on its payroll, it is the largest single employer of workers in the agricultural sector here.Caesar encouraged the farmers to diversify from bananas since those farmers who have partnered with the Cocoa Company have had a beneficial partnership.