A Port Elizabeth chocolate manufacturer is ready to take over the world — one bar at a time — starting with the US.
COTi Chocolate Manufacturers exported its first pallet of chocolates to Nashville, Tennessee, on Monday amid much excitement at its Kensington factory.
The shipment of Peanut Butter Zero came after COTi decided to venture into the international market because its chocolate proved a hit with the more than 6,000 people who attended the annual New York Wine and Food Fair in October 2019.
The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) sponsored a trip for COTi to attend the show.
COTi Chocolate Manufacturers MD Chris Parkin said the company had been preparing for the shipment since May.
“They [US citizens] love chocolate and peanut butter so we’re preaching to the converted,” he said.
“We’ll do everything online to start off.
“That’s quite a change, quite innovative.
“Obviously if we get success we can move into retail forms.”
Parkin said the company was ready to expand its operation internationally, with the UK next on its list, starting in 2021.
“If we get success with the American consumer we’ll have products sitting in America so we could find a retailer.
“If he wants a hundred cases we could supply him with a hundred cases.
“He doesn’t have to buy a full container from SA.
“If we find a distributor we could do that.
“That’s the beauty of this operation.
“The other beauty is that if it’s successful you could transfer it to other places.
“In March we are going to the UK.
“It would be great for a small Port Elizabeth company to take over the world,” he said.
Parkin said COTi was one of 18 companies selected by the ECDC and the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber for the exporter programme, which paved the way for the company to venture into the US.
Asked how much it was costing to export the chocolate, Parking would only say “it’s a lot of money”.
The chocolate will be made in SA but will be distributed by Peanut Butter Zero Inc of Nashville, Tennessee.
Parkin said COTi moved into zero added sugar chocolates in 2018 because of health concerns.
“Excess sugar consumption is an issue, particularly now in Covid times.
“Diabetes, obesity — these are issues to deal with.
“In carbonated drinks you can get zero sugar drinks but in chocolates that’s not very well developed.
“Chocolate confectionery is all about indulgence.
“There is no point in producing a healthy chocolate bar that is not enjoyable to eat.
“That is why Peanut Butter Zero is so good — it provides a stunning taste experience and you will not be aware that you are eating a chocolate bar that has been made without sugar,” Parkin said.
Like most business, COTi was negatively affected by the Covid-19 national lockdown, but Parkin said it managed to retain all jobs.
“We currently employ about 40 people.
“We fought to keep all jobs but it was very, very difficult. We retain them.
“At one point our sales were 56% of last year — that’s awful — but we retained all jobs.
“We were lucky to get a Covid grant and we also got some support from our bankers, Standard Bank, that enabled us to weather the storm.
“We are now coming out of Covid times in a much better position,” he said.
Parkin said sales of the company’s baking chocolate grew by more than 50% during the lockdown because “people are baking and they need chocolate to do it”.
“We are coming out of it in a reasonable way,” he said.
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