Brazil’s Divine Chocolates, which sources all its cocoa beans from the country’s Bahia region, has won the accolade for ‘Best Chocolate Product’ at this year’s yummex Innovation awards in Dubai.
Its ‘FOR FIT’ healthy chocolate bar impressed judges with its high cocoa, whey protein and soy-based isolated protein percentages, plus its lack of added fat and sugar, and its gluten-free characteristics.
“One 100g bar supplies 40% of all the protein any adult needs in one day,” said Diego Heineck, CEO of Divine Chocolates. “So, when consumers are enjoying a delicious bar of FOR FIT, they get healthy benefits at the same time.”
The win came after Divine Chocolates’ first yummex Middle East foray and it will, says Heineck, give the company increased credibility for a product targeted at the fitness and healthy-lifestyle consumer.
“We are researching and working to expand this line with more chocolate bars with benefits. This award is very important in motivating us to continue innovating and will also help increase our visibility.”
The yummex awards recognizes innovation across four categories: Best Chocolate Product; Best Hard & Soft Candy; Best Bakery Product and Best Snack Product.
Other category winners
The ‘Best Bakery Product’ title was secured by India’s Lovely Bake Studio for its vegetarian-friendly almond roasted cookies.
The award for ‘Best Hard & Soft Candy’ went to Pakistan’s Ismail Industries Limited for its new range of fruit-flavoured chili jelly beans.
And Bulgaria’s Prestige 96AD walked away with the ‘Best Snack Product’ accolade for its Prestige Wellness Probiotic Sandwich biscuits.
The winners were decided by a jury consisting of independent global industry experts and awarded during a gala gathering held at Dubai World Trade Center on the first evening of the event.
Organizers said all the winners will be invited to ISM Cologne 2019, the largest trade fair for the confectionary sector, which will be held in January.
