COCAO
CULTURE
Able to control every
aspect of the beanto
bar process,
the company
uses Solomons
Islands cacao grown in a pristine
environment within an established
network of grower partnerships.
General manager Glenn Yeatman
says each year, more than 15
tonnes of specially selected beans
are exported from the company’s
grading facility in Honiara and
transported to a bespoke facility in
Mt Maunganui to be slow batchroasted
using artisan techniques
and natural ingredients that preserve
its status as a superfood. “The
inclusion of our premium quality
nibs and dark chocolate kibble into
a food or beverage offers many
advantages such as a competitive
marketing edge, improved taste,
less ingredients (due to cacao
quality) and entry into all ‘free-from’,
vegan and kosher sectors,” he
says. “The popular gourmet flavour
has the added bonus of including
nutrients such as beta-carotene,
amino acids (protein), omega3
EFAs, calcium, zinc, iron, copper,
sulphur, potassium and one of the
best sources of stress-relieving
and muscle-relaxing - magnesium."
The company began in 2006, when
chief executive Clive Carroll created
a cacao range of single-origin and
free of all known food causing
allergens to put back long-term
benefits into the Solomons Islands’
cocoa growing community. The
range’s ‘free-from’ products have
won three international awards
since being launched four years
ago, and this year beat 1200 entries
from 45 countries to win two
bronze medals at the Academy of
Chocolate Awards in London. All
Solomons Gold products have no
added nuts, dairy, gluten, refined
sugar, soy lecithin or sunflower
lecithin, Yateman says, but pack
in more antioxidants than red
wine, blueberries, acai berries,
pomegranate and goji berries
combined. The Global Food Forums
report on food trends to watch in
2018 noted that nutrient-dense,
plant-based protein indulgences
are driving the ‘health treat’ trends,
with next-gen snacks now including
wellbeing-enhancing ingredients.
New Zealand’s burgeoning ‘valueadded’
food export sector is now
valued at $16 million.
www.solomonsgold.co.nz
I N G R E D I E N T S
As one of the world’s very few vertically integrated
chocolatier specialists, Solomons Gold New Zealand says
its business and products are unique on many levels.
28 OCTOBER 2018
/www.solomonsgold.co.nz
