A British, family-run chocolatier has launched a new, premium chocolate range to the UK market, representing the realisation of a dream “to create a truly generous and sustainable bar of luxury chocolate” in a world of shrinking bars and squeezed purses.
Named GOZO, meaning ‘joy’ in Colombia where the cocoa is harvested, the line is positioned to sit in a category of its own, uniquely bringing together the chunky bloc-choc bite with the sophistication of luxury chocolate.
The company behind GOZO, Sweetdreams Ltd, has described the range as bringing ‘joy’ to the market, offering great value against existing brands in the category that have been impacted by shrinkflation.
The range includes six new 130g block chocolate bars made using single origin Cacao Fino de Aroma, ethically soured from Colombia via Luker Chocolate.
The six GOZO flavours span a range of classic and innovative flavours: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, whole fruit and nut, dark chocolate and raspberry, sea salted caramel crisp and a non-dairy oat milk alternative – each at a recommended retail price of £2.99 for a 130g bar, and now available to buy online. The bars are around 1cm thick with six chunky squares measuring 3.5 x 3.5cm and a larger ‘bar within a bar’.
GOZO is created using Luker Chocolate, that has achieved the coveted Fino De Aroma classification with flavour profiles matched only by 8% of the world’s cocoa growers*. It is characterised by its unique and rich taste, and fruity, flowery and nutty notes**.
Unlike most mainstream chocolate, GOZO cocoa beans are not intensively processed, mechanically or chemically, so retain all the natural flavours, aromas and character the cocoa butter brings to the chocolate.
Luker Chocolate is a Colombian family-owned chocolate manufacturer. Through The Chocolate Dream, it has a long-term vision to improve well-being, protect the environment, and increase the income of producers and communities, prioritising the protection of children, women and young people across Colombia.
Through its partnership with Luker Chocolate, Sweetdreams Ltd has helped drive change in cocoa producing regions in Colombia by training local communities on ways to preserve and protect water sources and forests.
The husband-and-wife team behind GOZO, Matt and Cath Stephenson, head up Sweetdreams Ltd, an innovative confectionery manufacturer based in the North East with over 30 years’ experience.
For Matt and Cath, launching GOZO is the culmination of a dream. This dream was to put everything they’ve ever learned about making chocolate into their own best-tasting, sustainably sourced, and most generous range of chocolate.
Matt Stephenson, Managing Director of Sweetdreams Ltd, said: “The GOZO range is absolutely zero compromise. We set out to create a range of chocolate with depth and distinction, and its substantial size is what really sets it apart.
“With each 130g bar you get a big, beautiful, and incredibly generous block of Fino de Aroma chocolate. In fact, the GOZO bar is almost double the weight of some competitor products. GOZO’s ethos is to bring joy by being generous – generous with ingredients, generous with size and generous with value.
“We insist on actual real ingredients, not just flavouring. Our salted caramel bar has actual salted caramel. Our dark chocolate with raspberries has real raspberry pieces. The fruit and nut bar has whole raisins and lovely big almonds. It’s a big bar with no e-numbers, no fillers, no palm oil, no short cuts, and no making do.
“Sustainability is fundamentally important to us and partnering with Luker Chocolate on its inspiring initiative, The Chocolate Dream, has been an amazing experience. We’re helping to transform the chocolate value chain from origin, and seeing tangible results within the communities in Colombia where our GOZO cocoa originates”.
Sweetdreams Ltd recently recruited new team members to grow the GOZO brand, including James Jeffery as Head of Sales and Hannah Bowrey as Senior Product and Innovation Manager.
GOZO will soon be available via selected high streets outlets. In the meantime, it is available via the website www.gozochocolate.com
