SOLOMONS Gold chocolate has again put the Solomon Islands Cocoa Industry on the map, when they won two bronze medals at the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards 2018 in London last week.
Solomons Gold was honoured to be recognised with a bronze medal for their Dark Nib 75 percent Solomon Islands Single Origin chocolate in the Bean to Bar (under 80 percent cacao solids) category. They also won Bronze for their Dark Mint 70 percent cacao chocolate.
Over 1200 entries were received from artisan chocolate makers around the globe.
Solomons Gold chocolate is made at C-Corp’s bespoke factory at Mt Maunganui in New Zealand, only using the best Solomon Islands cocoa beans.
C-Corp Limited Managing Director, Mr Clive Carroll, said, “We are excited about Solomons Gold winning these Medals. The Medals are testament to the massive contribution of the Solomons Gold chocolate team in New Zealand, our supportive growers in the Provinces and our dedicated staff in Honiara.”
C-Corp started up its chocolate making activities in 2014.
They specially select and grade the best Solomon Islands dry beans they receive from growers at their Ranadi warehouse in Honiara, and then export to New Zealand.
C-Corp pay growers a premium of 20 percent over the ruling Honiara cocoa price for any dry cocoa beans which make ‘Chocolate Grade’.
C-Corp NZ not only make artisan chocolate, but also cocoa products such as cocoa nibs and various chocolate products which go into health food shops and boutique food manufacturers.
Mr Carroll commented, “What makes us different from most other chocolate makers is that we directly manage the entire supply chain from the selection and hand grading of the best cocoa beans in the Solomons, right through to the roasting and crafting of our Single Origin products in New Zealand. We are 100 percent committed to Solomon Islands beans.”
Island Cocoa, a chocolate maker from the UK, also won a Bronze Award for their 72 percent Solomon Islands Single Origin chocolate.
One of their directors, Martyn O’Dare, was in Honiara recently attending Chocolate Week.
–SOLOMONS GOLD
