Swiss confectioners have invented the newest kind of chocolate, a first in almost a century! Switzerland is a country that’s famous for its many services that revolve around chocolate. Its latest iteration of our favorite sweet stuff is called "Ruby."
Launched on Tuesday, this pink-hued chocolate is the 4th type that's ever been created. It came exactly 80 years after white chocolate has been launched.
The chocolatiers behind this wonderful creation, Barry Callebaut, said that the new product is sure to satisfy a need among Millennials, the people who were born in the ’80s to the early 2000s.
The "Ruby" chocolate is given a distinct color and a fresh berry-fruitiness character. These traits distinguish the brand new type of chocolate from its predecessors: white, milk, and dark.
"Ruby" is made from Ruby cocoa bean and it has distinct sets of attributes in comparison to other chocolates. Ruby cocoa bean, according to Barry Callebaut, is a result of years and years of testing.
The company claims that the product doesn't contain any coloring or berry flavoring. However, the launch comes at a time when confectioners are receiving immense pressure from consumers who are starting to demonstrate a shift towards healthier alternatives. In 2015, global market volumes of chocolate declined to 1.5%. Last year, they declined to 0.4%, as reported by Euromonitor.
As for the quality and chief innovation officer of Barry Callebaut, Peter Boone, Ruby chocolate is their response to the growing demand from young consumers. This particular demand is for luxury chocolate products:
"Consumer research conducted in various markets has confirmed that Ruby chocolate does not only satisfy a brand new need of consumers but also a high purchase intent that’s at several different price points."
Among the biggest suppliers of cocoa and chocolate products all over the world, Barry Callebaut does not sell to consumers directly. Instead, it provides their goods to international chocolate makers. This means that Ruby chocolate won't make it into our local stores for another year.
Best case scenario: we'll get our hands on some in a couple of months. Once Ruby chocolate becomes available in stores, it will take lots of forms.
In a statement, Boone said that they are looking forward to working with their suppliers in introducing this new innovative breakthrough. They will make the Ruby chocolate a category available to consumers and chocolate manufacturers from across the globe. It will be the 4th reference right next to white, milk, and dark chocolate.
The Ruby chocolate was revealed in Shanghai, China. The new product is expected to appeal to consumers from China which is considered a nascent market. The company said they have tested the product in various countries through an independent consumer research. In the countries where they tested, they claimed that they had an excellent response, even in China where chocolate is somewhat unusual. Shares of Barry Callebaut rose to 1.1% and closed the highest in 4 weeks.
