HEIDI CHOCOLAT
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FOOD & DRINK
SERIPSNI
CHOCOLATE THAT The executive team at Heidi Chocolat tell us about the sweet taste of success for the chocolatier, where a positive zest of life is the key ingredient Writer: Jack Salter | Project Manager: Harry Parker
Food is life, and life is good.” The year was 1994 when a passionate Swiss chocolatier and entrepreneur, set sail on a journey of exploration to share the secrets of Swiss chocolate production. Heidi Chocolat has been inspired for more than 25 years by the story of Heidi, an innocent and curious girl from the Swiss mountains who is the hero of a book published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri. The book is among the most well-known works of Swiss literature and one of the most translated books ever written, serving as the base for numerous movies and musicals. Heidi is a girl that loves nature, uplifts the mood of people and brings them together. Heidi’s positive spirit and outlook in the novel, which continues to inspire people to look on the bright side of life to this day, is embodied by the business - one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in Romania - which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019. “My professional passion is to grow business, brands and people. I love seeing happy people and helping to make them happy,” beams Managing Director, Peter Muller. “Chocolate is obviously a good business to be
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HEIDI CHOCOLAT in to follow this personal mission, and it fits well into Heidi Chocolat’s vision to inspire a positive zest of life by creating wonderful chocolate moments and making premium
HEIDI CHOCOLAT A BRIEF TIMELINE 1994 – The Heidi Chocolat journey begins 1996 – Heidi Chocolat instantly wins the hearts of chocolate lovers with the first chocolate tablets 1998 – New compositions of high-quality chocolate, fillings and unique ingredients make Heidi pralines a consumer favourite 2008 – Heidi goes international, creating happy moments for people in over 10 countries 2013 – Heidi Chocolat becomes a member of KEX Confectionery Group and grows further with the acquisition of Austrian confectionery producer Niemetz 2018 – Heidi Chocolat reaches over 50 countries and new opportunities arrive with the acquisition of high-end confectioner Schönenberger, later re-named Heidi Chocolaterie Swiss 2019 – Heidi Chocolat celebrates its 25th anniversary with a redesign and a new logo
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chocolate accessible to everyone. Chocolate where you see the good, taste the good, crafted with real natural ingredients inspired by nature. “Working in an industry which puts smiles on people’s faces, providing those little moments of happiness and deliciousness, and to work on new chocolate compositions is our motivation.” Since joining the KEX Group in April 2013, the Heidi Chocolat brand has developed into a leading local, premium chocolate player, expanding internationally to around 50 countries.
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE As a rich source of antioxidants, minerals and nutrients, dark chocolate rightly qualifies as a superfood, reaping numerous health benefits ranging from skin protection and improved brain functionality to a reduced risk of heart disease when consumed in moderation. Developed in response to this growing consumer trend, the vegancertified Heidi Dark range was created using a special recipe that is rich in cacao content, with up to as much as 75 percent in the Dark Intense, 85 percent in the Dark Extreme and 95 percent in the Dark Supreme. “Over the years, Heidi Chocolat developed this balanced dark chocolate which tastes intense but not bitter. The extra-thin tablet provides the perfect snap and an unforgettable chocolate experience,” acclaims Mueller. “The special recipe and format makes Heidi Dark in particular a wellloved offering for our consumers, as well as a winner in several blind taste tests versus other products,” says Ionut Baragan, Marketing Director at Heidi Chocolat. Meanwhile, alternative varieties provide different experiences. Heidi Grand’Or, for example, delivers the perfect mouth-watering combination of caramelised, crunchy nuts and delicate chocolate. The caramelised
Barry Callebaut Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the Barry Callebaut Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, mastering every step in the value chain - from the sourcing of raw materials to the production of the finest chocolates. Being the heart and engine of the chocolate industry, our mission is to be number one in all attractive customer segments. We are a business-tobusiness company, with a strong position in cocoa-origin countries and a unique global footprint. The Barry Callebaut Group, inaugurated recently ‘The Barry Callebaut Chocolate Box’, its new Global Distribution Center in Lokeren, Belgium. The Chocolate Box is the world’s largest chocolate warehouse. In the South East Europe region Barry Callebaut recently opened a new chocolate factory in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second largest city. The state-of-theart factory, which represents a total investment of EUR 55 million, has an initial annual production capacity of over 50,000 tons of chocolate. It allows Barry Callebaut to supply customers with a wide range of chocolate, compound and filling products. Barry Callebaut has also introduced 2 new Chocolate Academy™ Centers in Athens and Belgrade. Through our Chocolate Academy™ centers we empower chocolate artisans, pastry chefs, confectioners and bakers with solutions to improve their skills in chocolate and master new techniques and trends. Our expert chefs provide technical support and deliver inspirational recipes, digital resources, engaging demonstrations and creative collaborative sessions. The factory together with the new Chocolate Academy™ centers in Athens and Belgrade will serve as regional hubs from which Barry Callebaut can address the rapidly growing chocolate markets of Southeastern Europe and beyond.
www.barry-callebaut.com
Discover the Caramel Chocolate collection
Our Caramel Chocolate offers consumers a new taste sensation with a diverse range, based on one of the most popular flavors in the chocolate world - caramel. What is Caramel Chocolate? Caramel Chocolate is caramelized white chocolate. By playing with flavors and caramelization levels of sugar and milk powder we can offer the same diverse flavor profiles as we see in caramel candy and caramel fillings. Next to the flavor, the caramelization has a unique effect on the color: a pallet of blond, golden and brown colors. In our caramel chocolate Collection we offer 4 caramel chocolate variations, all different in terms of color & flavor:
Scan the QR code and learn more!
HEIDI CHOCOLAT
EME Outlook: What is your take on the industry in Romania and Europe at the moment? Is it an exciting space to be working in? Peter Mueller, Managing Director: “Today, we are living in a hectic, constantly changing, fast-moving world. We are losing the ability to hold back and enjoy moments of pleasure and appreciate the beauty of life and nature. Technology is rapidly changing our lives, togetherness with family and friends often falls short, the consequence of which can be stress and dissatisfaction. “In general, the industry is operating in a challenging environment with inflation peaking up, the manufacturing industry in particular facing a labour shortage, and to top it off, the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over. However, I am glad to say that we are managing the situation at Heidi Chocolat well and can keep operations going safely with the stringent health measurements we have in place and a vaccination rate far ahead of national average. “As availability is important and the modern lifestyle influences purchase behaviour, Heidi Chocolat will also further develop direct contact with consumers through social media engagement, chocolate workshops, and building directto-consumer touchpoints through e-commerce and Heidi Chocolatier Shops to offer freshly-made compositions not available in traditional retail.”
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and roasted nuts that are carefully placed on the surface shine golden, and unlike other offerings on the market, are not covered with chocolate, resulting in a special taste and crunch. Another hero in the portfolio is Heidi Florentine, a handmade almond specialty inspired by a 17th-century recipe in honour of Florentine Queen Catherine de Medici, delivering a unique taste and a balanced, sweet crunch. Those looking for a special gift can also depend on the chocolatiers from Heidi Chocolat to paint and decorate personalised chocolates, creating a true work of art worthy of any occasion. Furthermore, Heidi Chocolat is well-known for its hand-painted and decorated seasonal figurines. From the magic of Christmas to the joy of Easter, the company captures the essence of wonder that comes during the festive seasons. The world of Heidi Chocolat is also comprised of a truly unique product in Austria. Schwedenbomben are a Viennese specialty - chocolatecovered marshmallows with a fluffy foam produced from traditionally whipped egg whites. The product was invented by Walter Niemitz in 1926, who created his first Schwedenbomben with the help of a
Swedish friend. “As no stabilisers or artificial ingredients are used, they are very delicate and have a short shelf life of only three weeks, meaning fresh products are always guaranteed for the perfect enjoyment,” says Roman Bugl, Marketing Director Austria. Schwedenbomben is truly loved and regularly ranks among Austria’s top brands. It is therefore no surprise that Schwedenbomben workshops, which launched a few years ago at the Heidi Chocolat production site in Austria, have become a great success, attracting thousands of people every year. Soon, there will also be a second workshop dedicated to Heidi Chocolat where people can make and decorate their own tablets, pralines and truffles. This follows the chocolate workshops offered already in Lucerne, Switzerland and Bucharest, Romania, where families, friends and companies celebrate the fun of making chocolate. “While we are offering high quality premium chocolate, we also want to provide entertainment to our consumers because chocolate is fun,” underlines Baragan.
CHOCOLATE FOR THE SENSES With a unique dedication to craftsmanship, Heidi Chocolat treats every piece of chocolate like
FOOD & DRINK
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HEIDI CHOCOLAT
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FOOD & DRINK
AT A GLANCE - HEIDI CHOCOLAT VALUES: • The inspiring wisdom of nature • The wondrous taste of natural ingredients • The passion and dedication of craftsmanship • The unexpected paths of curiosity • The absolute beauty of staying positive The company also undertakes the following environmental commitments: • A culture of environmental protection and strict compliance with regulations • Determining business aspects that may have a significant impact on the environment and establishing the necessary measures • Use of recyclable packaging and investigating alternative solutions to plastic packaging • Continuous communication with suppliers and customers to improve a product’s environmental impact • Reducing waste that may occur as a result of production, transportation, stocking, operation and maintenance activities • Reducing the quantities of waste resulting from the manufacturing process
a masterpiece, carefully selecting ingredients and combining them in unique recipes to deliver the complete sensorial experience of texture, flavour and colour. High-quality cocoa beans and a wide variety of ingredients deliver a unique balance of intense cocoa taste with fruity or spicy notes, in a velvety-fine texture of perfectly thin dark chocolate. “We combine the traditional chocolatier’s craftsmanship and passion with a modern know-how of
today’s world. At Heidi Chocolat we value nature and natural ingredients which you can see and taste in the compositions,” Mueller tells us. Heidi Chocolat is very proud of its expert team of chocolatiers, who can also personalise products to cater for the gift economy. Whether it’s for a loved one or friend, a birthday or wedding, a party or company event, customisation is a trend that Heidi Chocolat can easily accommodate through personalised messages or greeting cards.
At Heidi Choco World, the company’s skilled chocolatiers take their artistry and knowledge to create new recipes, personalised tablets and special chocolate treats. Visitors can also join seminars for a one-of-a-kind experience creating their own special chocolates and packaging, as well as learning about the origins and history of chocolate. “Together with family, friends or colleagues, this is an entertaining event where you can learn more about chocolate and create your own compositions under the supervision of our chocolatiers,” Mueller outlines. COVID-19 didn’t stop the fun either, with Heidi Chocolat introducing online seminars during the pandemic to keep chocolate lovers entertained. “The online seminars provided some togetherness throughout the difficulties of lockdown when opportunities to meet with family or friends were limited,” says Bugl. Earlier this year, Heidi Chocolat opened the first Heidi Chocolaterie in Vienna on Mariahilfer Street, Europe’s longest shopping mile, a unique concept where more than 150 chocolate specialties can be found. As product innovation also continues to play a significant role, Heidi Chocolat will continue to deliver new formats and flavours whilst continuously reviewing new segments and developing trends. “Our overall strategy is to further strengthen our position within premium chocolate compositions in Romania, in addition to expanding distribution to our core export markets,” Mueller concludes.
HEIDI CHOCOLAT office@heidi-chocolate.com www.heidi-chocolate.com
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HEIDI CHOCOLAT CH: Heidi Chocolaterie Suisse SA, Täschmattstrasse 10, 6015 Luzern AT: Heidi Chocolat AG Niemetz Schwedenbomben® - Niederlassung Österreich, IZ NÖ-Süd, Straße 2c, Objekt M52, 2351 Wiener Neudorf RO: Heidi Chocolat SA - Bd. Biruinței, nr.125-127, 077145, Pantelimon Ilfov, România Company phone number: CH: +41 41 289 12 50 / AT: +43 1 795 45 0 / RO: +40 21 200 6 office@heidi-chocolate.com www.heidi-chocolate.com
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