A Pre-Valentines Day Chocolate Tasting event in the UAE highlighted an innovative packaging solution for serving worldwide markets with high-end French chocolates. Z Chocolat chocolates, by champion chocolatier Pascal Caffet, are sold exclusively over the internet, being shipped from France to customers in 244 countries, despite being highly vulnerable to temperature changes, said President Jean- Philippe Khodara.
“The chocolates do not have any preservatives, are made with pure ingredients, without alcohol and 100% pure cocoa butter,” he said.
“This means that they are extremely sensitive to variations in temperature. Variation in temperature could create migration of the ingredients. A little piece of cocoa butter will come to the outer layer and will cause a white layer.”
Z Chocolat products are therefore delivered in packaging that protects the contents from heat and cold while reinforcing the brand’s luxury image.
“Although chocolate is our business, the key to this business is the gift packaging that we do,” said Khodara.
“Our customers are high profile. Our product is expensive. The boxes are made out of mahogany wood, cut into plates and varnished outside only. We produce 5,000 wooden boxes and each box takes 10–30 minutes to produce. Inside we have a folding carton packaging.”
A thermal layer, inside the outer packaging, surrounds these boxes and gel packs inside the boxes keep the contents below 22°C, the temperature at which the chocolates can spoil, for 48–72 hours, said Khodara.
“While transporting we pack the boxes in ice pack like pharmaceutical products,” he said.
“We only experience problems with 3% of deliveries.”
A pre-Valentine’s Day tasting event at Dubai’s One&Only Royal Mirage hotel on 24 January showcased 25 numbered chocolates including a new oriental golden heart recipe, a half-pound chocolate heart filled with praline.
Z Chocolat now generates about 8% of its $4m annual revenue from the UAE, where its market is growing faster than in Europe and North America, said Khodara.