La única agencia regional de promoción del comercio y las inversiones en el grupo de África, el Caribe y el Pacífico.
Deidre is the Digital and Social Media Officer at Caribbean Export Development Agency. She currently manages the Agency’s digital presence.
She is a foodie and loves to travel.
IN JUST four years after Sophia Stone first came up with the idea of starting a natural herb tea company for the local market in Trinidad and Tobago, she has turned Caribbean Cure into an award-winning international business which now has its sights on the European market.
ISLAND DELIGHTS: Sophia Stone (l) and Stacy Seeterram (r)
Caribbean Cure has already got its foot in the door through leveraging support provided by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) and the European Union.
Through participating in Caribbean Export/EU funded programmes Caribbean Cure were able to attend SIAL, Paris where they were shortlisted for a Product Innovation Award in 2018.
MANUFACTURING They were back most recently in September of last year for Caribbean Export’s CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum and Authentic Caribbean Expo, in Frankfurt Germany where over 60 Caribbean companies showcased their products to the European audience.
This gave Caribbean Cure the opportunity to be featured in the UK Coffee Expo in November through connections which were forged in Frankfurt.
Commenting on the European push, Sophia said: “This year’s work is centred on how we are going to launch in the European market. We have done all the hard work of sorting out the manufacturing and the supply chain to sell our tea formulation using organic ingredients which are really healthy and wonderful, so we are now looking for a partner who will be interested in distributing for us.â€
While Caribbean Cure was initially Sophia’s idea of using nature’s herbs and bush teas to promote health and wellness, it wasn’t until she partnered with a friend and confidant Stacy Seeterram, a tea enthusiast in her own right, who embraced the vision of making these healing remedies more efficacious, convenient and attractive to today’s consumer.
CARIBBEAN CURE: range of teas
In a few short months Stone and Seeterram created five tea blends which were to gain Caribbean Cure official recognition as producers of world class teas. This was achieved by winning bronze medals at the internationally recognised Global Tea Championships, hosted by the World Tea Expo in Colorado, for their Tropical Relaxation blend in November 2017 and again for Island Breeze in January 2018.
Sophia’s passion for keeping Caribbean Cure teas unique and authentic lies in the processing of the product.
“I wanted to honour our long history in the Caribbean of using herbs and bush teas. The tea leaves are slow-dried to maximise nutrient content and each blend is also a delicate balance, formulated to create a memorable and unique experience in every cup,†she said.
JAPAN There is also a little bit of history brewed in each cup of Caribbean Cure tea. Island Breeze, a delicate blend that includes cardamom pods and white tea, is a tribute to Sophia’s Afghan/Canadian heritage, and borrows from one of her family recipes; while Carnival Oasis with its inclusion of mauby bark, cinnamon and clove, transports Stacy – a Trinidadian, with roots woven throughout the Caribbean – back to her childhood as it conjures memories of her grandmother’s “magical†blends.
Since August this year, Caribbean Cure was launched in Japan, making it the first tea company from Trinidad and Tobago to break into the Asian market. An obviously proud Sophia said: “The reason they are interested in our products is because of the health and wellness aspect of it. We are unique in the blend of herbs and natural healing ingredients paired with aromatic flowers and spices in our teas.â€
This article was originally published on The Voice as part of a series featuring Caribbean entrepreneurs and businesses sponsored by the Caribbean Export Development Agency.
With the global demand for fine flavor cocoa increasing, one Caribbean company wants to be the model for other regional cocoa farmers to follow.
Overcoming the current challenges facing the cocoa sector in the Caribbean region requires rethinking the current economic model, and this is a project being undertaken by the Trinidad & Tobago Fine Cocoa Company which was established as a public-private partnership with the aim of rehabilitating the cocoa sector. According to the company founder, Ashley Parasram, “the focus is not just looking at the basic economic return, it is also looking at what we need to do to stimulate the sector, remove barriers to trade and create brand awareness to develop opportunities further.â€
As the raw materials, production process and marketing of fine flavor cocoa to consumers is complicated, Parasram believes that transforming the Fine Flavor Cocoa Industry in the Caribbean will take five to ten years. Critical to this transformation is developing a sustainable economic model, and that requires increased cooperation and sharing of information amongst cocoa farmers. To aid this effort, Parasram has undertaken site visits to meet with cocoa farmers across the Caribbean region including Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Mexico. He plans to eventually visit all the major producers of fine flavor cocoa in the Caribbean region to document their unique strengths, and this also includes Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, Jamaica, and Venezuela.
The goal from these assessment visits is to create a roadmap to build and ultimately leverage partnerships to educate the consumer thereby increasing demand, reducing the number of intermediaries in the global value chain, lending to increasing profits for local farmers and also work to overcome the operational challenges in some countries to ensure consistency. These operational challenges include expensive electricity, lack of processing capacity, lack of distribution logistics or packaging and technical labeling skills.
Simplification of the global value chain is necessary to increase profits for cocoa farmers. Using Trinidad & Tobago as an example, there are typically eight participants in the cocoa global value chain including the cocoa farmer, fermenter, exporter, buyer, importer, processor, chocolatier and then the retailer who sells to the consumer. And with the retailer accounting for up to 30% of the cost, there is very little profit for the other seven in the global value chain controlled by a small number of large trading and processing companies. This control by a few companies often ends up with cocoa farmers achieving minimal profit for their harvest. This imbalance needs to change in the Caribbean to support the investment required to increase production and capture more of the fine flavor cocoa market valued at US$4 billion annually.
When thinking about fashion, places like New York, London,
and Paris come to mind. But within what was once labeled the poorest country in
the world, a burgeoning fashion industry lies; one that invokes axioms like “glamourâ€,
“coutureâ€, and “avant-gardeâ€. Haiti is a country known for its enthralling
artwork and flamboyant surroundings. Therefore, it is only natural that this
instinctive artistic talent would manifest itself in Haitian fashion as well.
On any given day, you can see a diversity of fashions
depending on the time of day, or even day of the week. From children in
uniforms with colourful hair accessories, to men and women in decked out in their
Sunday best making their way to church.
In 1998, while still studying, David’s business had a very
modest beginning, but his passion was limitless.
“I started with nothing big in my pocket or in my account.
I bought my first sewing machine and had one employee,†David shared. “Now, I
have plenty of machines, 10 employees, and a very good clientele list.â€
David admits that it took him a while to find his niche,
noting that he first wanted to produce haute couture, but then realized that
this was not for Haiti, particularly in the late 1990’s.
“I decided to focus on ready-to-wear cottons and linens
because it was less expensive, and more suited to our tropical environment. I
became focused on delivering quality at an affordable price.â€
Today,
his company produces and sells custom design clothing for men and women, along
with a unisex beachwear line, and wedding pieces, which can be found in
boutiques in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Martinique and Guadeloupe. David also
designs costumes for dance companies and music troupes as a part of his
portfolio; and showcased in a number of regional and international fashion
weeks including the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas, Martinique,
New York, Toronto, Paris, and Berlin.
Since then, his company has also been chosen to participate
in Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica, the European Study Tour to France,
Germany and the United Kingdom, and London Engage during the Summer Olympics.
“Caribbean Export has been a tremendous resource and a
major supporter of the regional fashion industry, especially here in Haiti. Each
initiative I’ve been involved in has proven beneficial, but the most impactful
has been the Study Tour to Europe. I was able to meet with other regional
designers and engage with international counterparts.â€
David credits the Agency for exposing him to international
markets and the requirements for these markets.
“Caribbean Export took me to places and events that I would’ve
never afforded to visit or attend on my own. Even though I was not able to
secure clients, I now have a better understanding of what is expected and I
believe that with the right support, I can successfully penetrate these
markets.â€
Acknowledging that it is a work in progress, David wants to
educate Haitians on the quality fashion that local designers create.
“Growing up in Haiti, most people bought their clothes from
boutiques that import from the US and the UK, but today Haitians have their own
sense of style and this augurs well for local designers like me who have
something unique to offer on the way to building the Haitian brand.â€
A major step in the creation of the Haitian brand was
realized with the development of the Haitian Fashion Week. The 3-day event,
which commenced in 2012, was free to the public and featured collections by 30
emerging Haitian designers worn by 20 Haitian, and 10 international models.
From swimsuits and formal gowns, to hand bags and
accessories, the Haitian Fashion Week delivered all the same features you would
expect in any international fashion week, but with a local flare.
“I want to be the Yves Saint Laurent of Haiti. He is a huge
inspiration for me, as he is someone who started with little to no money, and
now he is global brand.â€
“I
grew up in a family of entrepreneurs. My parents owned a boutique and fashion
was a natural part of my life, so I always knew I would open my own store, but
this didn’t come without its share of challenges.â€
One
such challenge was securing capital, especially as a fashion designer.
“Many
banks and financial institutions don’t believe that fashion is a high income
earner, but my mother was a huge supporter and she gave me the backing I
needed.â€
“I am experienced in creating a few bridal wear pieces for
clients, but now I have the opportunity to expand into an entire line, and it
is exciting.â€
David has successfully carved out a market for himself in
Haiti, but he also dreams of expanding his brand across the region.
“I have done work throughout the Caribbean, but exporting
is a challenge because of the limited space and human resources within my
company right now. I also need a strong financial partner, and someone with the
commercial contacts within the fashion industry.â€
David believes that regional designers can attain success
on the global stage if they collaborated more.
“We can come together and support each other much like
other designers have done in Europe, the US and Asia. If we take our business
seriously, we can be successfulâ€.
David further shared that Caribbean Export is in a prime
position to enhance the capacity of regional designers, especially as it
relates to brand development and market access.
“Regional fashion design firms need a good structure to
able to move forward. This includes financial and technical support, training
and information on the best markets within which to sell our products.â€
When asked about his recipe for success, David quipped that
there were five key ingredients: dreams, passion, patience, devotion and
humility. He further encouraged entrepreneurs, particularly those in Haiti, to
work on building their dreams, implored them to always ensure they were giving
the best quality and keep improving their craft.
“You need to believe in your dreams and never stop dreaming. Once you stop dreaming, you stop working. All you have in this life is your talent and your dreams. Use them as your escape from poverty and as your keys to success.â€
This article was originally published in Primed for Success Vol. 3.
If ever there was a case study of how the storied past of the Caribbean region is able to contribute to building blocks of successful brand building, then SMAKS is it.
The Trinidad and Tobago based company whose tea products have successfully managed to harness the appeal and mystique of the Caribbean and embody its essence, history and culture has already received the ‘seal ‘ of recognition. when the Queen of England writes to thank you for your tea, you know you’re on to something good.
Not that the brand’s creator, Kiran Akal ever had any doubts. His foray into the luxury tea market and has driven from the start by personal enthusiasm, a passionate love of the beverage, and a conviction that he has something new and exciting to offer to tea-lovers everywhere – including Buckingham Palace! In a world where so many products go for the lowest common denominator, his company, SMAKS Luxury Group (Bespoke Tea) takes a “quality over quantity” approach. “Yes, we are more expensive, but we are not concerned with mass production,” he declares. “teas are really a craft , not an industry.
Akal puts his money where his mouth is: he drinks about 14 cups of tea , ” from the time I get up, to when I go to bed.” The love affair started when he was 10, and blossomed when he went to university in London and discovered the world of fine, loose-leaf teas. It served him in good stead many years later, when he was brainstorming with his sister about a way to re-brand his mother’s 31 – year-old business: the original SMAKS, a store in Trinidad and Tobago that sold luxury goods, including fine crystal and porcelain. ” My sister suggested I should sell tea, because I drank so much of it,” he recalls. It was a no-brainer.
Economic growth in the Caribbean region is forecasted to increase from 0.9 percent in 2017 to 2.0 percent in 2018 with the prospects to increase further to 2.6 percent in 2019. However, these targets can only be achieved if the Caribbean region can improve its fundamental industries amidst global geopolitical occurrences to keep abreast with rapidly changing technology. Presently, Caribbean countries focus mainly on the provision of tourism services and the production of minerals and agriculture crops as the main economic activities. Many of these Caribbean territories possess extensive history of partaking in global agricultural value chains such as sugarcane, bananas, cocoa, cotton, citrus, ornamentals, coconut and coffee. These value chains have contributed significantly to the development of the Caribbean economies and in some economies agriculture is still the largest contributor to GDP, despite losing competitive advantages to global markets.
The uniqueness and difference in biogeography of the regions’ archipelago has allowed for the exploitation of various agricultural commodities, which have contributed to the brand of tropical colours, flavors, and tastes that are unique to the Caribbean region. However, the Caribbean region’s agricultural sector has suffered tremendous setbacks over recent decades due to global trade tariffs, climatic events and loss of preferential treatments to European markets. Low growth in output and high debt to GDP ratios is a characteristic of most of the countries in the region that remain susceptible to external shocks mainly in the form of natural disasters, for example, hurricanes, floods, droughts, volcanoes and earthquakes.
Cannabis and the Global economy
Commercial Grade Greenhouse for growing cannabis
The global business of cannabis is currently valued at more than $400 billion USD and compounding each year as the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is increasing and more traditional pharmaceutical companies are voyaging into the industry to increase the viability and long-term sustainability. Twenty-eight states in the U.S and the District of Columbia now have approved medical cannabis programmes, while eight states plus the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for recreational consumption. Although medical cannabis is allowed throughout Canada, the government is moving towards fully legalizing recreational use by April 1, 2019. In Australia, companies involved in the cultivation, production and research of medical cannabis have observed their average market shares increase by 130 per cent in 2017. Europe is set to become the largest medical cannabis market in the world with a potential market of over 140 million active cannabis consumers. Germany has taken the lead by launching the first legal and regulated medical cannabis market in Europe with several other countries announcing legislative amendments to advance the legal cannabis agenda.
Chronic diseases are on the increase worldwide, however there
is a global trend seeking to combat those illnesses through healthy choices.
Europeans, in particular, are becoming more health conscious
and are focused on using natural products, ranging from food to make up.
In 2018 the European cosmetic market was valued at approximately 78.6 billion with the natural cosmetics niche market accounting for some five per cent of the total market.
Europeans also enjoy sauces, condiments and seasonings and
have for the past couple years imported the same from a number of Caribbean
countries. Sauces, condiments and seasonings made in Caribbean countries and
exported to Europe in 2018 are valued at US$ 8,149,000.
Anastasha Elliot, who hails from Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been eyeing both the European cosmetics and condiment markets with the intention of getting a piece of the pie. Her company, Sugar Town Organics, producers of natural food and cosmetics, will participate in the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, slated for September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Organised by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the
forum will bring together over 150 stakeholders and businesses from 15
CARIFORUM countries and Europe with the intention to build partnerships and to
boost exports to the continent.
Anastasha’s journey to producing a range of healthy natural products for everyday use began when her mother was diagnosis with cervical cancer. That pushed the family to look critically at the products they used and the food they consumed.
That forced us to take a look at our environment, our food source, what and how we ate, how we were living both the emotional and mental aspects and the products we used on our skin and hair, Anastasha recalled.
As a result, a number of things happened:
The family adopted a holistic lifestyle,
embracing indigenous herbs and fruits.
Her mother beat cancer in four months.
Anastasha and her mother launched Sugar
Town Organics, a natural agro-processing company in 2010.
Built on strong traditional knowledge in herbal care passed down through generations, the company combines science and cultural practices to the produce over 80 items for everyday use or consumption. With Anastasha’s degree in culinary arts, along with diplomas in organic hair and skin care formulation, she ensures everything they create helps consumers to live healthier lives.
Sugar Town Organics produces natural food and cosmetics under
two brands: Flauriel and Yaphene. Everything is made with raw, active, high
performance ingredients sourced from indigenous botanical fruits, herbs and
plants found in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean. Raw material include
hibiscus, fennel, nettle, coconut, ginger, neem, soursop, sorrel, sugar cane,
sea weed, and tarragon.
For persons seeking the best in personal care products, Yaphene offers a wide variety of options that are powered by nature. Free from GMO, toxins, fillers, parfum, synthetic chemicals and artificial colours, the line includes shampoos, conditions, hair growth serums, oils, toothpaste, eye cream, facial cream, hair cream, and deodorant. Local spas and hotels use Yaphene products.
Under the Flauriel brand, the health-conscious person can
choose from natural jams, salad dressings, pancake syrup, vinaigrettes, liqueurs
and wine made from a variety of indigenous crops such as hibiscus, mango,
coconut, sorrel, soursop, avocado, guava, ginger and more.
The mother-daughter company works with eleven local farmers
and sources additional raw material from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad.
Sugar Town Organics can be found in over eight stores in St.
Kitts. The company is now focused on exporting its brands throughout the
Caribbean and Europe.
Turmeric has many proven health benefits and is thought to assist in the prevention of heart disease, Alzheimers, high blood pressure, and cancer to name a few. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and is high in iron and vitamin B6.
After seeing the turmeric being grown in Belize while on assignment there in 2014 for an International NGO, Umeeda Switlo fell in love with the Belizean turmeric. It was huge and really orangey in colour, she enthused. In that moment she had the idea to form a business venture using wild crafted, whole root turmeric grown by the farmers in Belize.
As a result, she started a company with her daughter Nareena and called it Naledo – a combination of the name Nareena and Toledo, the district in Belize where the turmeric is sourced. This company produces Truly Turmeric, which has the distinction of being the world’s first wildcrafted whole root turmeric paste. The company also created a social enterprise in Toledo that would support farmers, from whom the turmeric is sourced directly, employ youth, improve health and produce products sustainably.
Umeeda admits
that this model of doing business was inspired by her mother Lella (known as
Mamajee) who had instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and
who, during time spent in the kitchen cooking together would always ask both
she and her daughter Nareena what they could do to make the world a better
place.
After developing Truly Turmeric in 2016, Naledo decided to gain exposure by launching the product at an industry trade show in Vancouver in May 2016. With just a basic set up of 50 labelled jars and a few samples, they managed to attract the attention of a national distributor who believed in their social enterprise model and helped them to grow from zero stores in 2016 to 600 stores across Canada. Truly Turmeric can also be found in Belize, the Bahamas and some parts of the United States.
Keen to find new markets for the product and to share the health benefits of turmeric with other parts of the world, Naledo will be taking Truly Turmeric to Europe as part of the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being held from September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany. The forum is being organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) .
Truly Turmeric paste is great for use in many dishes including marinades, smoothies, oatmeal, soups, stir fry, curries, eggs or just in plain water. The paste can also be used to make a refreshing and rejuvenating face mask if desired.
More and more people are conscious not only
about what they put into their bodies for good health but also what they put on
to their skin. Consumers are trying to get away from sulfates traditionally
found in shampoos that have gained notoriety for being very harsh on the skin
& scalps of persons with skin conditions such as: psoriasis, eczema or
sensitive skin. Skin conditions such as
psoriasis affect 7.8 million adults in Europe and approximately 1-3% of adults
in Europe suffer from eczema. Also, many consumers are now seeking to
avoid parabens a key component used to restrict bacterial growth in many
popular international hair care lines which has been linked in recent times by
many medical studies to the development of breast cancer.
Across the Caribbean you’ll find naturally made soaps, shampoo’s and personal care products that are devoid of such dangerous chemicals. At the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum in Frankfurt, Germany a collection of some of the finest natural products from the Caribbean will be presented such as, Curealoe from Curacao; Caribbean Blue Naturals from Saint Lucia; BahamaSpa from the Bahamas and Sugar Town Organics from St. Kitts and Nevis. Another such company which is quickly becoming a company to look out for is Herboo Corporation Ltd.
Herboo Corporation Ltd., a Jamaican company which produces a range of hair and skin products using locally grown plants, spices and herbs. According to Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Javin Williams, the idea was birthed out of his personal experience with dandruff. A few years ago I had really bad dandruff and while I tried the popular brands they just would not work so in my frustration I went to my grandmother and she recommended some herbs to me like rosemary and peppermint and trust me when I tell you that when I used them, in less than two weeks my dandruff was gone.
After that
experience he decided to utilize locally grown herbs and spices on a commercial
scale as a way to help others treat their hair and skin. He explained that coming from a poor
background meant that he did not have the money needed to produce the products
on the scale he wanted so his sister came to the rescue.
She took samples
of the products to her university and asked for donations in exchange for a
sample of the products. The money
collected was the seed money used to create products on a commercial sale which
were then sold and the proceeds used to develop new products. Javin also entered a number of business
competitions and the proceeds from those also assisted.
In addition to
local financial assistance, Javin also received support in a number of areas
including the chemical composition of the product, investment advice and
marketing.
The 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum is a 3-day event taking place from 26-28th September 2019. Over 60 Caribbean suppliers across 4 industry sectors will be at the event organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) aims to improve trade between the Caribbean and Europe.
Whether it’s for medicinal or recreational use, tea is one of the most consumed hot beverages worldwide. In 2017 the global tea market was valued at almost US 50 billions dollars and it is expected to exceed US 73 billion dollars by 2024.
Certainly, European traders in the 16th century knew they were onto something great when they introduced tea leaves from China to the continent. Only growing in popularity, tea remains not only a preferred beverage to sip but a wise investment choice in Europe.
The Caribbean Export Development Agency has created a unique opportunity for European buyers and distributers interested in natural teas from the Caribbean to be introduced to export ready tea brands at the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.
Slated for September 26 to 28 at the Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany the high profile event will be hosted by Caribbean Export in collaboration with the European Commission and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).
Over 150 Caribbean and European counterparts will get the unique opportunity to meet under one roof to discover tantalizing Caribbean products and services as well as network and build international partnerships. The purpose is to help companies from 15 CARIFORUM countries start or increase exports to Europe.
Caribbean Cure, the award-winning tea company from Trinidad and Tobago, is one of the natural ingredient companies seeking to get its tasty and earthy concoctions sold in Europe.
Brewing nothing but pure natural Caribbean goodness, owners Sophia Stone and Stacy Seeterram were inspired by tradition to produce five deliciously healthy infusions.
The brews pleased more than just the palates of family and friends. In fact, Caribbean Cure has been recognized as producers of world class teas. In 2017 and 2018 the company won bronze for its Tropical Relaxation blend and its Island Breeze blend respectively at the Global Tea Championships hosted by the World Tea Expo in Colorado.
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Caribbean Cure was shortlisted for a SIAL Paris 2018 Product Innovation award in the prestigious SIAL Innovation Contest, the world’s largest Food and Beverage Exhibition.
The secret is in the process. The tea leaves are slow dried to maximize nutrient content. Each blend offers a delicate balance formulated to create a memorable and unique experience in every cup, Stacy Seeterram explained.
Co-owner Sophia Stone added, I wanted to honour our long history in the Caribbean of using herbs and bush teas. Backed by science, my goal was to make these healing remedies more efficacious, convenient and attractive to today’s consumer.
Also headed to Frankfurt, Germany in September is Shavuot, a Jamaican brand of exotic teas made from local leaves, seeds and roots such as carassee, ginger, moringa and turmeric.
Owned by Richard Harris and his two sons, Joel and Jordan Harris, the trio decided to produce value added products from crops grown on the family’s farm. Shavuot, which means harvesting goodness, is sold in approximately 15 countries. The family produces thousands of cases of tea each month, with 90 per cent being shipped overseas and the remainder sold in Jamaica.
For buyers interested in sourcing Caribbean teas, the 4th CARIFORUM Business Forum is the only place to be from September 26 to 28.
Did you know that dark chocolate naturally releases a chemical in the brain to make you happy?
When Elizabeth Lady Montano was informed of this by Gillian Goddard, Co-Director of the ARC TT The Alliance of Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago, that light-bulb moment went off. Lady Montano had been struggling to find that perfect treat for patrons attending her son’s (International Soca artist Machel Montano) annual Machel Monday Carnival Concert. In 2014 her and her team had been on a quest to find the perfect snack to highlight the theme Happy Nation and as veganism and vegetarianism are lifestyle choices of the Montano’s, creating a vegan chocolate became the obvious choice!
Our brand ambassador Machel Montano is vegan, I am also vegan and most of our family is either vegan or vegetarian. We want to encourage healthy living hence those ingredients. There are no preservatives, no additives, no emulsifiers and no dairy of course. We wanted to keep it pure, healthy and attractive to taste and we have succeeded in doing that. We want to make people aware that you can eat healthy and still enjoy it, Lady Montano said.
Machel Montano Chocolate Ltd will be attending the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, which will be held in Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany from September 26 to 28, 2019 in an effort to break into the European market.
Organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in cooperation with the European Union and the German Development Agency (GIZ), the forum aims to improve trade and exports from the region to Europe, especially in high potential growth areas such as the agro-processed food and natural ingredient industries.
Machel Montano Chocolate Company Ltd produces 60 per cent dark chocolate bar using authentic fine flavoured Trinitario cocoa. The formula is quite simple containing only three ingredients: cocoa nibs, cocoa butter and Guyanese Demerara sugar and has a shelf life of one year. As a handmade product it’s currently ranked as the second best local chocolate in Trinidad, and it now has its eyes on expanding into Europe and the United States.
The Montano’s mission isn’t just to produce a fantastic tasting happiness inducing vegan chocolate, they also want to revitalize the Trinidadian cocoa industry. The company has sought to empower several local communities, which currently supply the cocoa.
Machel through his foundation is working with the Siparia community where he grew up to set up a factory. This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and we are working with WHYFARM to achieve that goal, disclosed Lady Montano, adding that the foundation was empowering residents through training and by equipping them with chocolate production tools.
Trinitario cacoa come from the Trinitario cacao trees which are a natural hybrid biological class resulting from cross-pollination. They were created in Trinidad after a hurricane in 1727 destroyed most of the Criollo cacao trees. The Trinidad cacao plantations were then replanted with Forastero resulting in the creation of a hybrid of Criollo and Forastero (source: https://www.caribbeanandco.com/caribbean-chocolate-brands/)
Over 60 Caribbean producers will be attending the Business Forum and other chocolate producers include Cocoa Saint Lucia and Coldbush Organics from Jamaica.
