bake - March/April 2023 - 60

TIME SAVING TIPS
BETTER-FOR-YOU CHOCOLATE
Puratos US recently celebrated the installation
of a new production line at its chocolate
plant in Wisconsin. The line was added
to respond to increased demand.
" The types of products we have and the
high quality that we have is resonating
really well with our customers, " said Andy
Brimacombe, president of Puratos US, who
was on hand for the celebration. " We've
seen really strong growth over the last
couple of years in volume. As a result, we're
continuing to invest in the business. "
The company has seen a surge in demand
for better-for-you (BFY) chocolate, which
is part of the company's Belcolade brand
produced in Belgium.
" We're seeing the BFY market growing
faster than the mainstream market, "
he said. " We're trying to target the BFY
segments with our products. We have the
sugar-reduced and the dairy-free, which are
particularly fast-growing segments within
the market. "
The production line, the fifth at the
facility, will help the company increase
capacity up to 20%. The facility produces
high-protein, organic, non-GMO and other
special chocolate and cocoa products under
its domestic Chocolante and Carat brands.
It also will produce Cacao-Trace chocolate
and compound coatings from Puratos' sustainable
cocoa sourcing program.
" A lot of it is chips and chunks, that's the
most common format, " Brimacombe said.
" Effectively it gives us more capacity in
those formats which are our key formats
and the ones selling well. "
The day included tours, chocolate tasting
and chocolate-based giveaways for employees
at the plant.
" A lot of the focus will be celebrating the
success the team has had to be awarded this
investment in the first place and thank them
and to demonstrate we're committed to the
Kenosha, Wis., area and we're continuing to
invest in it, " Brimacombe said.
Puratos works with farmers in several
countries, including Ivory Coast, Vietnam,
Mexico and Papua New Guinea, that grow
cocoa beans for its chocolate.
The company's Cacao-Trace sustainability
program strives to provide better wages for
farmers and pay for schools, hospitals and
other infrastructure in their communities.
" We have a phrase: 'There's no profit without
sustainability. But there's no sustainability
without profit,' " Brimacombe said. " We're
trying to create that win-win because what
we see is that if you don't invest in these
communities, people leave and go to urban
areas, and it's happening all over the world.
By investing in these origins, people are able
to make a fair and decent living. Creating
amenities, giving the people a future, giving
their children a future and getting them to
stay and manage the land creates a sustainable
supply chain for chocolate. "
In addition, research data shows that
global interest in the subject gut health is increasing.
3 out of 4 consumers have interest
in gut health to improve immunity (78%).
UNIQUE
FLAVORS
Lady M Confections, a French-Asian bakery
café chain famous for its Signature Mille
Crêpes Cake, has introduced the Sesame Ti
Kuan Yin Tea Mille Crêpes Cake.
The luxury confections brand's newest
cake flavor is made with highest quality
ingredients, incorporating the flavors of the
Chinese oolong tea variety, Tieguanyin into
the Mille Crêpes Cake.
60 2023
SPRING CAKES
Launched on March 1, the cake features
20 alternating handmade layers of delicate
and nutty black sesame cream, paper-thin
French crêpes, and floral Ti Kuan Yin oolong
tea whipped cream. Each cake is elegantly
finished with a black sesame glaze and
topped with roasted sesame seeds.
Created in 2001 and led by chief executive
officer Ken Romaniszyn, Lady M combines
French pastry techniques with Japanese sensibilities,
resulting in delicate cakes that are
a touch sweet and perfect for every occasion.
All cakes are handmade and prepared fresh
without food additives or preservatives.
LADY M CONFECTIONS
bake - March/April 2023

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