Latin American chocolate specialist Republica del Cacao has its sights set on expansion in European travel retail.
The brand will exhibit at the TFWA World Exhibition & Conference for the first time this year (Riviera Village RH16). There it will launch two new lines. Single Origin Dark Chocolate bars feature cacao from Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Dominican Republic and Dark Chocolate Bars include locally-farmed fruits. The new range will be presented in a selection of premium gift boxes.
Republica del Cacao promotes its products, which include dark, milk and white chocolates, truffles and lines for home baking and professional use, with a ‘grown locally, enjoyed globally’ tagline.
In travel retail Republica del Cacao collaborates with top retailers including Dufry, Duty Free Americas and Motta International. Its products are available in duty free outlets in Bogotá, Quito, Guayaquil, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Punta Cana, Vancouver, Jordan and Singapore. Stores in Panama, Cartagena (Colombia) and Argentina are expected to join the network, the company said.
Republica del Cacao has developed a bespoke portfolio and brand identity for travel retail. Brand ambassadors in its 30 personalised in-store Chocolate Boutiques – in high-traffic locations for travellers in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and the USA – offer product details and information on the origin of cacao.
The company underlines its collaboration with local communities in Latin America where it has created a network of cacao producers and local ingredient small farmers in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Dominican Republic.
The brand’s mission is to “sustainably produce the most authentic Latin American chocolate” and preserve the region’s “most important agricultural treasure”, its cacao. Republica del Cacao said that it pays fair prices for products and signs long-term contracts to help communities improve their crops and support their families.
