A South African premium chocolate maker plans to put up a factory in the Philippines, a step closer to making products available in the country and the rest of Southeast Asia.
Gavin Boy, owner of McKinley chocolate, recently met with the Trade Department for possible cooperation and assistance that the Philippines government may offer to the chocolate maker.
“We’re looking for the raw range. All processes that have to do with raw chocolate making, we do here, since I cannot leave my country. The final process of crafting the end product we will do in South Africa,” he said.
Boy likened his product to the renowned Godiva premium chocolate brand [but] “only ours are handmade and we plan to go organic since this is the path most consumers are taking nowadays.”
He added the company might also venture in selling semi-processed chocolate which could be another brand for the world market.
The chocolatier said shipping from the Philippines to South Africa, though costly, was not a problem to the company. It said it was more concerned on the quality of raw Philippine chocolate.
“We import a lot [of chocolates] from Belgium. So shipping and price are never problem to us. We are after the quality of cacao and raw chocolate that we will be getting from here, if and when we decide to buy,” Boy said.
McKinley Chocolates can produce as much as 40,000 handmade chocolate pieces in a month. It employs marginalized women in South Africa, mostly single mothers.
Boy said his company exports to the United Arab Emirates and has a stable market South Africa.
“We want to be organic and premium. We are hoping that our entry into the Philippines will help launch a thriving business with the rest of the Southeast Asian region,” he said.