Pic: PFL Group CEO, James Rice and General Manager, Queen Emma Chocolate & Spice, Karina Makori
Queen Emma Chocolate ramps up production.
Mr. Anthony Smaré, the Chairman of the Board of Paradise Company Ltd., the parent company of Paradise Foods Limited, advises the company is on track in building a world class diversified food company. “We have identified the five main strategic growth drivers of the entire business and structured the operating companies to best achieve this, along with identifying new market segments we can enter using our combined strength. The existing categories of Biscuits, Cooking Oil, Ice Cream, Snacks, and Bottled Water have plenty of head space for growth, whilst our specialist chocolate factory is showing remarkable growth.”
Paradise Company Ltd., CEO Mr. James Rice announced Queen Emma Chocolate Company (QECC) has doubled the production shifts to cater for the increasing sales success of PNG’s very own made chocolate.
“Since January when Queen Emma launched the kina bar in milk, white and dark chocolate, along with a refined premium range of these flavours including two single origin dark chocolates demand has risen. We have expanded distribution from Port Moresby to Lae, up the Highlands Highway to Mt Hagen, and across to the main island centers of Kavieng, Kokopo, and Kimbe. Distribution is still expanding as we arrange the necessary cold-chain storage, which ensures the quality of the chocolate remains at its best.”
“It is wonderful to be sourcing cacao from over 2,000 independent family farmers across Papua New Guinea and in turn make a remarkable range of chocolates available in different sized bars so there’s always a Queen Emma Chocolate bar for any occasion.”
Queen Emma Chocolate introduced a second 8 hour shift in August after a rigorous training induction, to ensure the highest production standards are maintained. At the same time QECC General Manager Karina Makori explains “ we are also busy working on developing the right flavour profile of our cocoa powder as there is strong global interest in sourcing cocoa that offers interesting provenance and unique flavour notes.”
Chocolate isn’t the only growth item on the CEOs agenda. James Rice explained now that the emNAU 85g pack is being introduced other initiatives will follow. Mr. Rice mentioned that Paradise Foods Ltd., and Laga Industries are developing a joint plan to increase local manufacture of PNG’s favourite cooking oil, Highland Meadows. The water range will be increased and interestingly Rice mentions Paradise Foods is nearing the final design of a green field corned beef production line, for an authentic PNG made real bully beef encompassing the high quality and values with the brand of Paradise Foods Ltd.
