Grace's toasts Irish chocolate heritage

Grace's, the successful Northern Irish food business has diversified into beverages with the launch of a new drinking chocolate. The company has created Grace's Finest Irish Drinking Chocolate in a special presentation tin that revives Northern Ireland's chocolate heritage.

The drinking chocolate, targeted at the autumn/winter market, is now on sale at a recommended retail price of £3.40 for an attractively packaged 100g tin.

William Bullock, managing director of Grace's, commenting on the newly launched product, says: "Northern Irishman Sir Hans Sloane invented drinking chocolate back in the 17thcentury when he found people in Jamaica drinking cocoa they mixed with water. He didn't like the local concoction and decided to mix it with milk to make it more pleasant.

"Born in Killyleagh, county Down, Sloane, a scientist, botanist, collector and secretary of the Royal Society, brought his recipe back to England from Jamaica. It was sold as medicine by apothecaries and was later turned into a successful business by the Cadbury Brothers who sold tins of Sloane's drinking chocolate. What we've done is to revive the product and bring the packaging concept into the 21stcentury.

"I believe we've created a delicious product that contains 30 per cent cocoa that will have global appeal. Initial interest from major retailers has been immensely encouraging. As well as the traditional autumn/winter season, we will be developing marketing opportunities around St Patrick's Day.

'Our research shows indicates that there is growth in the market for innovative drinking chocolate formats particularly in developing countries including China, South East Asia and Latin America Consumers are prepared a premium for products seen as offering a quality taste experience. Our packaging format has been designed for the premium end of the market."

The company, he adds, carried out extensive tastings before settling on its own recipe for the new beverage.

Grace's is based at Bangor in county Down and has developed a portfolio of traditional Northern Irish food including oatmeal and shortbread biscuits, fudge, jams and tea. The company has gained UK Great Taste Awards for its iconic shamrock shaped shortbread and oatmeal biscuits.

The family run business, established in 2004, currently sells its range of products in the US, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.