We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have been presented with 3 Gold Awards at the renowned Great Taste Awards, the Oscars of the fine food world. The winners are our delicious new Double Choc, Fudge & Toffee Swirl Chunky Chocolate and our chocolate thins which are made for Duchy Originals; Duchy Originals Organic Milk Chocolate Bezant with natural sweet Spanish orange oil and Duchy Originals Dark Chocolate Bezant infused with natural Mitcham mint oil.
This is a fantastic achievement for House of Dorchester and is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. Next on the list is the Taste of the West Awards – fingers crossed!
The first chocolate theme park, The Chocolate Wonderland. has opened in China. 20,000 sqm of tempting sweet experiences to explore, including the largest chocolate replica of the Great Wall of China, life-sized replicas of the Terracotta Warriors and waterfalls, all made out of chocolate!
The chocolate fashion show at the Chinese version of Salon du Chocolat featured models wearing fashionable dresses, shoes, handbags made of chocolate. This is one yummy concept for chocolate lovers.
Above is a letter from Sophie Jarrett (aged 10). A very happy customer after a visit to our Chocolate factory
We can’t quite believe that it is almost the end of 2009, the year has whizzed by in a blur of new chocolates and new awards and thanks go to our whole team for their continued hard work and enthusiasm.
Our chocolate Easter tiles proved a roaring success at the start of the year and in May, our chocolates were given to ladies at the Worshipful Company of Inn Holders banquet which was attended by the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs. In June we launched our delicious new Chunky Chocolates range and we’ve been delighted with the favourable comments they have received – Raspberry & Meringue, Double Choc and Fudge & Toffee Swirl have already won Gold at the Great Taste Awards and the Taste of the West Awards!
In September we attended the Speciality & Fine Food Fair in London and were pleased to welcome so many to our stand. Our Caramel Connoisseur box made its first appearance at the show (another Gold winner!) and this joins our other Connoisseur collections – Mint, Stem Ginger, Dessert and Rose & Violet Cremes.
The Great Taste Awards and Taste of the West Awards proved incredibly successful for our chocolates this year and in total we were presented with seven Golds – a fantastic achievement for our chocolatiers!
A highlight of 2009 was donating 300 advent calendars to The Children’s Trust and 50 to the children’s ward at Dorset County Hospital – we’ve been told they were a big hit with the children!
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you all in 2010!
When the Worshipful Company of Innholders entertained the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs at their Banquet at Innholders Hall in March, the current Master, Jeremy Pope, decided that the gift to the ladies attending the event should be a box of House of Dorchester Chocolates. Each box carried the coat of arms of the Innholders’ Company and was inscribed, ‘Finest hand finished chocolates from Dorset’.
HRH The Prince of Wales made a return visit to the House of Dorchester chocolate factory on Friday 12th December, which he opened ten years ago. Many of the staff who were there in July 1988 welcomed him back as he toured the factory with the Lord Lieutenant Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers.
House of Dorchester now makes the Prince’s Duchy Originals organic chocolate ‘Bezants’, named after the Gold Bezant coins which feature in the Duchy of Cornwall Coat of Arms and the Duchy Originals crest. During his tour, His Royal Highness was shown how House of Dorchester creates the Bezants and infuses them with natural vanilla, Mitcham Mint oil, sweet Spanish orange oil and ground Arabica coffee. Duchy Originals’ Chief Executive Andrew Baker accompanied the Prince and with the Company’s development team showed him some of the new products under consideration for inclusion in the range next year.
