Samoa’s heaven sent chocolates

19 December 2017, 12:00AM

There is a popular saying “Life is a box of Chocolates! You never know what you’re gonna get.”

Last week, Wilex Samoa launched a new range of chocolate boxes to add to its ever popular Koko Loa line of chocolates. 

Its three new products- aimed for the local, tourist and export markets are:

1. The “Dairy Free” Milk Coconut Chocolate - is a first of its kind in the world- and is a delicious product targeting the Vegan Market as well as health foods markets. “We developed this chocolate after numerous requests from our “Vegetarian and vegan community” as well as surveys carried out at the Auckland, Food Show held in July where Koko Loa displayed some of its products.

2. The Koko Loa Assorted Gift Pack of Chocolates is simply divine! “The Gift Packs were inspired by our customers feedback saying they wanted something slightly bigger to show off Samoa to family and friends, we’ve worked tirelessly with our design people in Wellington, NZ to bring you this beautiful packaging masterpiece.

The new packaging arrived last week and we’re so excited for our Farmers, Retailer and also Our Employees as if Sales pan out we will definitely need more employees. We promise it is quality chocolate. Still proudly produced here in Lelata by our 20+ staff.  Wilex strives to give an exquisite taste of Samoa with nuts and fruits to tickle your taste buds! Koko Loa was just launched in American Samoa last week- and so far support has been overwhelming, with resulting orders now being sent over.

3. Koko Loa Macadamia Gift Pack is now being produced here due to popular demand by our American and Asian Customers. Wilex hopes to use existing Samoan Macadamia and nut tree’s for these products to encourage and support small farming communities.

“This will provide an extra source of income for our people, instead of going to NZ and Australia, we want to encourage our people to stay in Samoa and farm our land” said Tagaloa Eddie Wilson.

Wilex Samoa has a network with over 300 farmers /families since the Mid 1990s, and plans to continue local production are ongoing. 

“Our farmers are 2nd – 3rd Generation Wilex Farmers, I worked with their Grandparents and parents to develop their farms and now they’re teaching there children as well, so the more success Wilex see’s so will their farmers,” said Tagaloa Eddie Wilson.

The brand Koko Loa was envisioned by founder Tagaloa, the name Koko Loa is a ‘play’ on his Chiefly title Tagaloa – a God of our ancestor. 

Thus, Koko Loa is “Heaven Sent”. 

The Koko Loa Gift Packs were just launched in American Samoa last week and so far support has been overwhelming with the resulting orders now being sent over

Wilex Samoa has been working with the American Samoa Government and farmers in growing cocoa in the American territory. 

Soon Wilex will start producing chocolates from cocoa grown in American Samoa. Plans are for manufacturing arm of the company to be established there as a doorway from the American market.

Koko Loa has now established export markets in Am Samoa, New Zealand, USA and Japan. 

The local factory has just commissioned new plant-equipment including a refiner-conches to increase its exports capacity.

Wilex Samoa has a network with over 1100 farmers- families since the Mid 1990s and plans to continue local production are ongoing. 

Wilex plans to increase local cocoa production by at least another 2000 acres with its farmers and its farmers and its own.

Plans are also in place to establish joint ventures in Fiji and Tonga as well to increase market access to the pacific tourism industry.

19 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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