Divine Chocolate expands UK and global listings
The premium Fairtrade and farmer-owned chocolate company works with export customers across Europe, Asia and Australia, and is looking to expand into Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Russia and the UAE.
Alara Global
The company recently partnered with Alara Global in Turkey to distribute its sharing bar range, Dark Chocolate Mint Thins and Dark Chocolate Ginger Thins, Divine Cocoa Powder and Drinking Chocolate into Duty Free outlets at airports, marinas and country border points.
It was also named best ‘emerging brand’ at The Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100 awards in May 2017.
Charlotte Green, marketing director, Divine, said demand for premium chocolate continues to increase globally, as consumers are looking for something special when they want to treat themselves.
She said Divine offers an alternative to the mainstream premium brands because it has a combination of flavors combined with ethical credentials and a brand story.
“As part of the Divine 5 year strategy, “Growing Business Differently”, we are looking to expand our customer base,” said Green.
“We already work with a number of distributors outside the UK and US, so we want to grow with them, as well as working with new distributors to target new territories, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.”
This month, the company will be featured as part of The British Bid, a global initiative to demonstrate the best in British business, flying the flag of British excellence and, ultimately, generating new growth via overseas trade.
Walgreens
The British Bid will showcase stories from some of the best of British business – highlighting its heritage, innovation and quality. A short film about Divine Chocolate will be shown on BBC Worldwide, alongside four other British companies.
Last month, Walgreens in the US expanded its Divine range with Divine Milk Chocolate with Toffee and Sea Salt, Divine 85% Dark Chocolate and Dark Chocolate with Mint.
“While we still have work to do, consumers and retailers across the United States are becoming more familiar with the Divine Chocolate brand outside of the Natural Channel and we’re confident this listing in Walgreens will help introduce more chocolate lovers to the Divine brand,’ said Troy Pearley, VP, sales, Divine USA.
Waitrose in the UK is adding several lines to its current range of Divine Chocolate products including the Divine Chocolate Tasting Set, a book style sharing product with 12 individually wrapped little bars in six flavors.
The Tasting Set launched in 2016 and targets customers for sharing and gifting occasions. Waitrose will also now stock 100g bars of Dark Chocolate with Pink Himalayan Salt, Dark Chocolate with Almond and Raisin and Dark Chocolate Mint Thins.
BP Connect has increased its listings of Divine products, adding three 100g sharing bars; Dark Chocolate with Ginger & Orange, Dark Chocolate with Pink Himalayan Salt and Milk Chocolate with Toffee and Sea Salt to their existing offering of Divine impulse bars.
It will also feature its 70% Dark Bar and Cappuccino Bar.
Food service distributor DDC Foods will be adding the full range of Divine Chocolate impulse bars to its offering, including palm oil free dark or milk chocolate caramel and the new Cappuccino bar, made with Cafedirect Machu Picchu coffee.
