FROM TRUFFLES TO BARS ??" CHOCOLATIER AIMS TO GROW MARKET FOR FINE CHOCOLATE

Northern Ireland based award winning Co Couture, is launching three new chocolate bars on the back of its success in winning two gold awards in a major international awards competition. The gourmet chocolate company, formed by trained chef Deirdre McCanny, has developed three new bars ??" dark chocolate with rum and raisin, dark chocolate and milk chocolate with honeycomb ??" to add to its successful range of truffles and its first venture into the challenging chocolate bar market ??" dark chocolate with biscuit and cranberry, which gained a two gold star rating in the recent Great Taste Awards. The chocolatier's unique Bushmills whiskey truffles also gained a coveted three gold stars from the judges. Deirdre McCanny, whose business background also includes successful spells in sales and marketing, started Co Couture in March 2008 to follow her dream of creating gourmet chocolates, a market opportunity she had identified while working in New York. ???There was a fine chocolate shop near where I was working on Wall Street which created the most delicious chocolates. Once you taste fine chocolate there is just no going back! This encouraged me to carry out some initial market research which indicated a developing trend towards gourmet chocolate. ???My experiences, both as a chef and in marketing, keep me firmly grounded on creating high quality chocolates that chocolate lovers will purchase time and time again. And while I appreciate the importance of attractive packaging the focus for Co Couture is on the chocolate. The packaging has been carefully designed to create a striking pack which looks the part without costing the earth. What's inside the packaging is what counts. ???Through using only the highest quality raw materials I focus on creating really delicious fine gourmet chocolate; each of the chocolate blends are totally unique to Co Couture. The Bushmills whiskey truffle, is made with the distillery's famed Black Bush liquor whiskey and was launched to mark the 400 year anniversary of the company,??? she adds. Co Couture, which is based in Belfast, now produces handmade chocolates in small batches using only the finest raw ingredients from respected chocolate houses in Italy and France and recipes that she has created. Success quickly followed the launch of Co Couture's products. This has included securing an order with the Irish National Lottery's campaign to promote the launch of its new Millionaire Lottery game. Co Couture was also commissioned to supply the VIP chocolates for the prestigious Silver Clef Awards in London in July at which Oasis picked up a lifetime achievement award. Co Couture's success demonstrates the values of Northern Ireland Naturally.