Ruby chocolate continues its momentum in Japan with new products and customers

Japan is one of the biggest markets for the 4th type of chocolate today

Around 100 Ruby chocolate products from over 40 chocolatiers and brands have been launched in Japan

This Valentine's season,Ruby chocolate is available across Japan in more than 50,000 retail,sales and distribution outlets

Barry Callebaut plans to also manufacture Ruby chocolate in its chocolate factory in Japan

TOKYO andZURICH,Jan. 9,2020 --Two years after the global introduction of the first Ruby chocolate products for consumers in Japan,the fourth type of chocolate continues to make waves. Today,Barry Callebaut AG,the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products,revealed that Japan is one of the biggest markets for Ruby chocolate.

Kohei Ogata,Head of Chocolate Academy in Tokyo,leads the way in exploring new and creative Ruby chocolate applications in Japan.

With the coming of Valentine's Day this year,consumers in Japan will be able to get their hands on around 100 different Ruby chocolate products from various international and Japanese brands-- in formats including chocolate bars,bonbons,ice creams,biscuits and more.

Pascale Meulemeester,Managing Director for Barry Callebaut in Japan,said,"For decades,the Japanese consumers' preferences and cultural inclinations have trail-blazed trends in the region and beyond. At first attracted by its unique look,the trendy Japanese consumers have truly embraced Ruby chocolate as the fourth type of chocolate and are extremely curious to try it."

Research[1] shows that 42% of the Japanese population is aware of Ruby chocolate and over 6 million consumers have already enjoyed it,even though it was not available everywhere in retail until now. 82% say they are interested in tasting Ruby chocolate in the future. And The Nikkei Trendy,a popular Japanese magazine that tracks trendsetters,put Ruby chocolate on its 'Top 30 Trends List' in 2019.

"In the past year alone,we have witnessed the market embracing Ruby as a breakthrough innovation and is leading the world with ideas and applications that are setting a new standard for creativity and expertise in the market - and we are just scratching the surface," Meulemeester continued.

Japan's obsession with Ruby is here to stay and Barry Callebaut believes that its role is to facilitate the creativity of all brands and artisans alike and in doing so,shape the future of chocolate.

Chocolate manufacturers and artisan consumer brands are rolling out Ruby chocolate products in more than 50,000 distribution and sales points in supermarkets,convenience stores,train stations,hotels and pastry and chocolate shops across Japan this Valentine's season.

At present,Ruby chocolate for consumption in Japan is being imported. With the increasing demand for Ruby chocolate in Japan,Meulemeester revealed that the company's chocolate factory located in Takasaki (100 km northwest of Tokyo) is preparing to also produce Ruby chocolate locally for specific confectioneries and customers.

Considered by many chefs and experts as the biggest innovation in chocolate 80 years after White chocolate,Ruby chocolate ingested a new wave of creativity into the chocolate market,inspiring leading artisans and food manufacturers alike to introduce exciting products and applications.

Some of the new Ruby chocolate products that will be available in the market for this occasion:

LOOK Jewel Chocolat (Ruby Cacao) and Ruby Cacao Cream Cake ~ With Framboise ~ by Fujiya

Carré de Chocolat < RUBY CACAO > by Morinaga

KITKAT Chocolatory Ruby 2020 Assortment by Nestlé Japan

This growing manifestation of indulging applications rides on Ruby's promise of a completely new taste experience,which is a tension between fresh berry-fruitiness and luscious smoothness. Ruby is an authentic chocolate made from the Ruby cocoa bean. To create Ruby chocolate,no berries or berry flavor,nor color,is added.

All photos can be found on Barry Callebaut Asia Pacific's Flickr album: http://bit.ly/RubyChocolateinJapan

A video news release will be available at the same link by 4pm Singapore Time.

[1]Online consumer research by Marcomill,February 2019

About Barry Callebaut Group (www.barry-callebaut.com):

With annual sales of about CHF 7.3 billion (EUR 6.5 billion / USD 7.4 billion) in fiscal year 2018/19,the Zurich-based Barry Callebaut Group is the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products-- from sourcing and processing cocoa beans to producing the finest chocolates,including chocolate fillings,decorations and compounds. The Group runs more than 60 production facilities worldwide and employs a diverse and dedicated global workforce of more than 12,000 people.

The Barry Callebaut Group serves the entire food industry,from industrial food manufacturers to artisanal and professional users of chocolate,such as chocolatiers,pastry chefs,bakers,hotels,restaurants or caterers. The two global brands catering to the specific needs of these Gourmet customers are Callebaut® and Cacao Barry®.

The Barry Callebaut Group is committed to make sustainable chocolate the norm by 2025 to help ensure future supplies of cocoa and improve farmer livelihoods. It supports the Cocoa Horizons Foundation in its goal to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future.

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