Herzegovinian town proves chocolate makes things better

It has often been said that chocolate makes things better and the Herzegovinian town of Mostar has done their bit to prove this old adage is true.

Only days after violence erupted in the town, when around 200 people clashed with police after Croatia were knocked out of Euro 2012 by Spain, frustrated and embarrassed residents as well as visitors from nearby Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Croatia itself gathered in the Spanish square in the Mostar town centre for a so-called 'chocolate mess'.

Designed to encourage the community to start to tackling the most pertinent local issues facing the town the gathering was the brainchild of Ivan Rozic who like most of the people in attendance was tired of what is perceived to be the same problems happening time again.

'There are so many positive people here in Mostar and they want to seek solutions'. said Rozic.

'Tonight is not a night of solutions, it's a night of gathering and detecting our problems'.

That said he did confirm some small action for change had already commenced with the collection of monetary donations to better equip the city hospital and organise new art events.

“We can't solve all the political disputes in our city or country, but there are issues we can contribute to... like health care and education,” he added.

Amongst the discussion, almost everyone who attended the chocolate event brought chocolate to share with other people.

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Source and Photo: Balkan Insight

NZ woman finds glass in Kit Kat

A woman from Auckland got a nasty surprise the other day when she bit into a chunk of glass and possibly even ingested another while munching on a Kit Kat Chunk.

The woman,  Lisa Cruse, who alleges she cut her gum on a 2cm diamond shaped shard is demanding a total recall of this popular chocolate bar.

According to Cruse, she had requested that Nestle, the manufacturer of Kit Kats, be completely recalled to eliminate the risk of children suffering the same fate.

So far, however, she claims to have received mixed messages from the company.

Apparently Cruse called the Nestle NZ customer services hotline on Sunday to register her complaint only to find the hotline unmanned at the weekend. After uploading a photo of the offending glass shard to their Facebook page, (which was subsequently removed) she eventually received a telephone call from a customer service representative who is supposed to have told her to place the glass in water.

'She said it was 'hard candy' and insisted I put it in water to see if it would dissolve' stated Ms Cruse.

After informing Nestle that the glass shard failed to dissolve in water, Cruse later received a telephone call from Nestle's head of communications informing her that 'the CEO was away till next week, and that my request for a recall would be investigated'.

In a later call Nestle are alleged to have requested she said send them the piece of 'foreign matter' for analysis. However as yet Cruse has refused to do so, on the basis that she does not want to give up the only piece of 'evidence' she has to support her claim so eaily.

'The woman kept saying the glass would have to be analysed to see what it was but I told them it was unquestionably glass, which could cause all sorts of internal damage to a child, and I'll definitely be hanging on to it until I get some answers' a defiant Ms Cruse proclaimed.

Ms Cruse is also believed to have kept the bar's wrapper, recorded its best before date and all relevant information that she believes would help in ensuring no one else risked ingesting glass when eating a Kit Kat.

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Chocolate Lounge opens at Lisbon airport

Lisbon has always been one of the nicer airports in Europe but now it has got even nicer!

Recently concessionaire Cores Doces opened new confectionery concept store called Chocolate Lounge. Offering a delectable range of some of the world’s most famous chocolate brands including Godiva and Neuhaus from Belgium, Valhrona from France and the family-owned Portuguese chocolate brand Arcádia, as well as a selection of hot and cold chocolate drinks, fruit dipped in chocolate and chocolates made on site, the store is a welcome addition to the airport's retail space.

Given its prime location and the sheer volume of sweet toothed passengers who are in essence a captive audience, I am sure the store will do very well.


Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

German confectionery industry fears tough 12 months ahead

According to the findings of a recent survey from the German confectionery association BDSI, German confectioners are, in light of rising EU sugar prices, wary about their overall business prospects in 2012 .

The survey which sought to draw conclusions about the current economic situation of the industry asked 62 German confectionery companies, ranging from local manufacturers and retailers to large multinationals, how their sales were panning out in the first quarter of 2012 to ascertain a broad appreciation of where the market was at.

The results made grim reading with more than two out of every three companies admitting that sales had dropped off from the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the BDSI, total production of confectionery in Germany for 2011 was up 2.2%, whilst the actual value of the market had remained fairly consistent at around €12.6bn.



Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

Godiva to Double Store Presence in China

Godiva, the leading manufacturer of quality Belgian chocolate, has unveiled plans to double its network of chocolate boutiques in China in 2012 in response to the local population developing a penchant for the good stuff.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Jim Goldman, confirmed at an interview at the Chocovision conference in Davos, Switzerland that Godiva has scheduled to open around 15 new outlets across the country within the next 12 months. Bringing its total portfolio of shops to 30 in the three years since it expanded into China.

‘China is less than 5% of our revenue, but it’s the fastest-growing piece of the puzzle’ affirmed Goldman.

‘Over time, we’ll be in the hundreds of stores in China, but we also know that the Chinese use the Internet and the commercial aspect of the Internet is becoming more of a factor’.

Overall consumers in China spent approximately $1.1 billion on chocolate last year and according to market researcher Mintel that figure is set to achieve an annual year on growth of 11% up until 2014.

Established way back in 1926, Godiva, which Turkey’s Yildiz Holding AS bought for $850 million, will have sites in 10 Chinese cities by the end of 2012, according to Goldman. By 2016 they are hoping to operate in more than 100 Chinese stores.

Goldman believes Godiva’s boutique expansion in China will help the brand remain ahead of the competition, even as more western chocolate companies start to enter this lucrative market.

‘You don’t see a lot of boutiques’ he said.

‘We’re starting to see some of the more well-known European brands with one or two stores. We’re leading the way and just need to stay ahead’.

Goldman also confirmed that Godiva is expanding its operation in delivering online orders of chocolate and other confectionery products by van in Shanghai, where the company also operates a cafe that sells baked goods and wine in addition to chocolate.

Article posted by Spencer Samaroo, Managing Director, Moo-Lolly-Bar. A true chocoholic, he also is chief editor of I Love USA Candy.

A Tardis Chocolate Box

Something for all fans of Dr Who.

This rather cool Tardis Chocolate Box, which is made by one Michelle Quinn, is currently causing quite a stir on the internet. In particular on the Facebook pages of Doctor Who.

Hand made, the Tardis Chocolate Box is filled with chocolate, though it is not clear as to whether like the real Tardis it is bigger on the inside than the outside suggests.

Unfortunately this is not for widespread commercial sale which is a shame because I reckon it would be very popular.

Source: Dying for Chocolate