In the craft chocolate market, “sense of place” has become the new “single origin," according to The Chocolate Professor blog post.
Matt Caputo, an importer and distributor of over 60 craft chocolate brands for his company, A Prior Specialty Foods, pinpointed this trend in a recent seminar hosted by the Fine Chocolate Industry Association entitled “The Future of Craft Chocolate: Can We Grow This Market?”
Caputo observed that buyers and consumers were experiencing “single origin dark fatigue” because this variety of bar can be found in many grocery or even corner stores.
A newer appeal to consumers, according to Caputo, is “sense of place” that goes beyond the country that produced the cacao. Chocolate brands whose products tell stories about where the brand comes from, in addition to simply the chocolate itself, are positioning themselves for better consumer engagement.
Caputo noted that it's still necessary for brands to have good single-origin expressions in their lineup, as a means to showcase that they are competitive. Full Story
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