Saturday, November 30, 2013

FOOD SPECIAL ......................Nuts are Out, How About Hot and Spicy Chocolates?


Nuts are Out ,How About Hot and Spicy Chocolates? 


Spices Board starts selling chocolates infused with chilli, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and cumin in Kochi; to rope in partner for the venture

Nuts and raisin are passe. Chocolate connoisseurs can now satisfy their sweet cravings by indulging in chocolates laced with traditional Indian spices. Chilli, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and cumin could be some of the flavours targetted at the niche customers and the hospitality sector.
The Spices Board of India is currently selling flavoured chocolates in Kochi and is scouting for a partner to venture into mass production. Other regional chocolatiers see a growing demand by expats and NRIs.
Sale of spice-flavored chocolates in gift boxes has just started at the Board’s signature store ‘Spices India’ at Lulu Mall in Kochi. The chocolates are sold under its popular ‘flavourit’ brand at . 900 for a 180-gm pack.
A Jayathilak, chairman of the Spices Board, said the outlet is a pilot project with various valueadded products including the spice-flavoured chocolates. “Depending on the success of this stall, the Board may go for more outlets across the country and in overseas as well,” he said.
A person in the design and development of the spice-flavoured chocolate said there is much more to spices than its use in cooking. “By coming up with these chocolates, we aim to increase the consumption of spices and bring the global experience to Indians,” he said, acknowledging that they were in talks with a leading domestic chocolate manufacturer. The industry pegs the chocolate market at . 5,000 crore with an annual growth of 15%. Increasing purchasing power and gifting trend in the country are expected to boost the market. The flavoured chocolates remain a niche product with global players like Lindt, Heidi, Torres, Valor, Whittakers selling various flavours at specialty stores and airports. Globally, chocolates with flavours of salty cashew nuts, beef, bacon, barbequed potato chips, peanut butter, banana are popular.
“There is a particular segment of consumers who prefer flavoured chocolates. We produce cardamom and orange-flavoured chocolates to cater to this growing segment. Overall, the demand for chocolates is moving up by 20-25 % a year,” said Suresh Bhandary, MD at Mangalore-based Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative (Campco). Campco, which markets chocolates in its own brand, plans to raise its annual chocolate production capacity to 21,000 tonne by 2015 to meet the growing consumption of chocolates.
“Demand is coming from fivestar hotels, corporates and a niche client segment. Just like cheese and wine, flavoured chocolates are an emerging market which will grow with the expansion of modern retail and confectionary shops,” said Renny Jacob, MD, Cacobean Chocolatier. The cocoa supplier to Cadbury India and chocolate manufacturer for Spices Board, Starbucks, Café Coffee Day, Costa Coffee and supermarket chain Metro cash and carry is currently having a cacpity to manufacture one tonne per day.
Discerning customers, largely expats and NRIs, are also driving the demand for new flavours, said Nikhil Mittal, a leading chocolate manufacturer in Chandigarh.
His recent order for an NRI groom was chocolate flavoured with vodka and chilli to be gifted along with the wedding cards.
“A national player who introduces these varied flavours might bring products at a competitive price as limited orders ensure that these value-added chocolates’ prices remain high at . 2,000 a kg compared to . 500-1,000 of normal chocolate,” said Mittal.
Gourmet chocolate manufacturers rue that the country has not been able to cash-in on the advantage of its natural resources and flavours to market it globally. “Chilli chocolate is synonymous with luxury swiss chocolate company Lindt and coconut chocolate by American chocolate brand Bounty. None of the raw material is grown in their country. A chocolate with paan can be an Indian specialty for at least domestic taste buds,” added Jacob.
MADHVI SALLY & PK KRISHNAKUMAR
ET131122

No comments: