Chocolate power
Forget about chocolate being bad for you: according to research, the average chocolate bar contains 21% of daily calcium requirements, 12% of the daily iron quota and is an excellent source of energy.
The UK public certainly seems determined to eat as much chocolate as it can - annual consumption per capita stands at 8kg per person, second only to that of Switzerland with its 10kg-per-capita habit.
Moreover, consumption is rising each year, with 1996 sales up 4% on 1995, totalling £3.4b. Chocolate accounted for 70% of all confectionery sales in 1996, as opposed to a 50% 30 years ago.
It is less easy to document sales of mints and after-dinner chocolate mints. No research is undertaken at all in the catering arena, although Bendicks, which manufactures a range of chocolate mints, says that 42% of sales are for the after-dinner market. The remainder is bought for gifts or private consumption.
In the retail market, Nestlé's After Eight is still the market leader, followed by Bendicks and Elizabeth Shaw, while the catering market includes smaller companies, such as Ackermans and Town & Country Chocolates, who also are on the lookout for business.
Mint condition
Individually-wrapped Belgian mint chocolates are available from Tchibo in 1kg packs containing 200 pieces. The chocolates are suitable for vegetarians as they contain no animal fat.
As an alternative to after-dinner mints, Tchibo offers a range of biscuits covered in milk or plain chocolate, marzipan and nuts.
Price: After-dinner mints, £11 per kg (about 200 pieces); Continental selection of biscuits, £40 per case of four 1kg boxes
AVAILABLE FROM: Tchibo
Dial 100 and ask for Freephone Coffee
Truffled up
A Range of flavoured truffles made by Eatons of Torquay is supplied by Vin Sullivan Foods. The selection includes dark chocolate, white vanilla, cräme de menthe, praline, Grand Marnier, whiskey, rum, Baileys, Christmas pudding and Tia Maria.
The truffles come in 1.6kg boxes containing about 200 pieces. Also available are petits fours cases, cups, coatings, couvertures and ganache.
PRICE: truffles, £35 per 1.6kg (about 200 per case); petits fours cases, ranging from £26.90 to £42.50 per case (up to 672); Marie Charlotte cups, £38.95 per 108; Prima dark chocolate coating, £24.50 per 5kg block; couverture, from £11; ganache, £61.50 per 5kg tub
AVAILABLE FROM: Vin Sullivan Foods
01495 792792
The personal touch
Dorset-based The House of Dorchester supplies a range of chocolates in personalised wrappers for the hotel and restaurant trade.
A new addition is the "Great British Year", a set of 12 themed chocolates with wrappers depicting social and sporting events such as Wimbledon, Royal Ascot and Valentine's Day. An illustration and short history are printed on the wrapper and chocolates come packed in two sets of 12.
Price: personalised wrappers, £99 per 1,000; plain wrappers, £85 per 1,000; Great British Year, £3.25 per pack of 24
AVAILABLE FROM: The House of Dorchester
01420 84181
Flower power
The latest in chocolate treats from Countrywide are chocolate flowers, solid pieces of chocolate in the shape of carnations, asters, dog roses, daffodils and tea roses. They are available in milk, plain, white or mint chocolate and come in 1.2kg boxes, each containing 240 x 5g pieces. Packs contain either mint flowers or a selection of milk, plain and white.
Other additions to the range are milk chocolate orange crisps. Individually wrapped in red foil, the crisps are flavoured with orange oil and come in 1kg boxes, each containing 166 pieces. These are also available with mint flavouring.
Price: chocolate flowers, £58.04 per 6 x 1.2kg case; chocolate crisps, £37.50 per 6 x 1kg case
AVAILABLE FROM: Countrywide Catering
01604 27011
Kosher mints
Two of Bendicks' range of mints, bittermints and mint crisps, are available to caterers in 1kg packs. Suitable for hotel rooms, weddings and special occasions, the chocolates contain no animal fats or gluten and are certified kosher.
PRICE: bittermints (55 per box), £7.59; mint crisps (130 per box), £6.42; also available in 3kg box (390 per box), £17.26
AVAILABLE FROM: Bendicks of Mayfair
01962 844800
