Spread the love

Vanuatu-grown cocoa transformed into a rich uniquely flavoured dark chocolate has found its way onto dessert menus on P&O Cruises’ ships as the island nation’s Aelan Chocolate Makers reach official supplier status.

In another sign of support for the Vanuatu economy, the first shipment of the chocolate has already been made to P&O and its onboard galley teams are devising dessert treats using the celebrated dark chocolate.

The cruise line’s guests will soon be able to order exotically flavoured desserts such as a Chocolate Grand Marnier Torte incorporating the Vanuatu produced chocolate along with a rich chocolate sauce flowing over it.

“It’s a very big achievement to become part of our supply chain because the standards are extremely high when it comes to product quality and reliability of supply,” said Sture Myrmell, President of P&O Cruises Australia.

“Only the best of the best can make it and Aelan Chocolate Makers showed that it has what it takes to be an official supplier to the region’s home brand cruise line.

“We also see it as a natural partnership between an exciting Vanuatu enterprise and P&O with its proud history in the South Pacific spanning more than 85 years.

“It is also in keeping with our long-standing pledge to enable island communities to share in the economic benefits of cruising. It is good to know that the results of Aelan’s success flows back to their network of cocoa producers across the islands of Vanuatu.”

Aelan Chocolate Makers — Aelan means island in the local Bislama language — has been working with communities of cocoa producers in Vanuatu since 2007 to produce a dark chocolate based on a traditional mixture of cocoa beans and sugar.

Each island where the cocoa beans are grown has its own unique flavour which flows through to the handcrafted chocolate.

Aelan Chocolate Makers’ Director Sandrine Wallez said it was an honour for the company to become part of P&O’s supply chain, which showed that Vanuatu companies are capable of achieving a standard of excellence.

“For years, we worked hard with the cocoa producers from the islands of the archipelago to produce a quality fine dark chocolate, which is now internationally awarded,” Sandrine said. “We invested a lot to meet international food safety requirements and we were very proud to receive P&O’s approval to become a new supplier.

“It made all of the producers so proud and we received a huge positive response from the people of Vanuatu on social media. Sales of Aelan Chocolate are supporting the training of more cocoa producers and communities in Vanuatu.

“We like welcoming P&O passengers when they visit our chocolate factory and learn about chocolate making and the story behind Aelan Chocolate Makers.”

Aelan Chocolate Makers is affiliated with Vanuatu’s ACTIV Association – Alternative Communities Trade in Vanuatu – which is dedicated to encouraging socially responsible enterprises in the archipelago.

The Aelan Chocolate Makers and ACTIV Association affiliation has helped Vanuatu’s cocoa producers develop value-added businesses, which in turn support island communities.