Cargill has launched its artisan chocolate brand Veliche Gourmet in the Netherlands at the country’s leading hospitality fair – Horecava 2019, in Amsterdam. Veliche Gourmet is positioned as a high-quality Belgian chocolate range with outstanding sensorial profile that brings a full, smooth and superior taste to professional artisans in the Netherlands. The brand is dedicated to enable high levels of creativity for professional artisans, at an affordable price.

The whole range is 100 percent sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, “meaning our chocolate is a treat well treated – right from its origin,” the company writes. 

“Veliche Gourmet provides sustainability as a standard. The whole of Veliche Gourmet’s cocoa-based range is Rainforest Alliance certified, with the beans sourced from several countries. However, the majority come from west Africa to maintain consistency in taste throughout the year,” Ilco Kwast, Marketing Director, Cargill Cocoa & Chocolate tells FoodIngredientsFirst. 

“Rainforest Alliance Certification guarantees that no forests are cut down as a result of the production of our cocoa, and that nature reserves, fauna and flora are protected. The certification also helps cocoa farmers to preserve natural resources, increase productivity and improve their living and working conditions,” Kwast adds. 

Last month, Cargill outlined its plan to eliminate deforestation from its cocoa supply chain through the company’s Protect Our Planet plan, which seeks to provide concrete actions to achieve 100 percent cocoa bean traceability. The plan also includes a commitment of “no further conversion” of any forest land in Ghana and Ivory Coast for cocoa production, and expands the company’s forest efforts to five origin countries (Brazil, Indonesia, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Ghana).

The Veliche Gourmet range is promoted as suitable for every application and is remarkably workable, thanks to its optimal melting curve, producing perfect results for the professional artisan. “Veliche Gourmet chocolate and cocoa products have an outstanding sensorial profile and are suitable for every application. This includes bakery products, pastries, desserts, ice cream, pralines, ganache and mousses. The chocolate is remarkably workable as the 12mm dots have an optimal melting point and the wide range ensures that there is a product for every application,” Kwast explains.

“The launch of Veliche Gourmet is supported by our new e-commerce platform – which makes us the only vertically integrated chocolate producer in Europe to provide an e-commerce platform wher end-users can purchase directly from the supplier,” says Inge Demeyere, Managing Director for Cargill’s chocolates and compound activities in Europe. “This creates a direct link between the professional artisan and us, facilitating a unique partnership based on our shared passion for artisan creations – and the endless possibilities chocolate offers.”

For those preferring to purchase via the more traditional route, Veliche Gourmet has partnered with Bidfood – the main premium supplier to professional kitchens in the Dutch market – which serves 25,000 customers across the Netherlands. Veliche Gourmet is currently available in Belgium, the UK, Ireland and selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region and its launch in the Netherlands is the first step in expanding its availability across Europe.

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