’57 Chocolate is the pioneer bean to bar chocolate business in Ghana defined by creativity and luxury. This venture uses resources grown within the country to create delicious, whimsical treats.
The artisanal chocolate channels Ghana’s Independence Day revolutionary spirit, challenging the neo-colonial sentiment that premium chocolate can only be made in Europe.’57 is a chocolate business pioneered in Accra, Ghana, by a dynamic duo of Pan-African sisters and it is on a mission to revive Ghana’s 1957 “can do spirit.”
Priscilla and Kimberly Addison are the creators of this luxury chocolate made in Ghana by Ghanaians, for Ghanaians. Their chocolates which come in dark, milk, white chocolate, mocha latte and bissap flavours are uniquely packaged in adinkra symbol shapes.
According to an interview with these forward-thinking entrepreneurs, the journey, which started with an idea born in November 2014, but realised in January 2016, was not an easy one. Kim the youngest sister fell in love with the possibility of making chocolate when she went on a factory tour in Switzerland. Intrigued by the fact that although Ghana was the 2nd largest exporter of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, in the world, yet produced insignificant amounts of the final product, Kim decided to embark on an adventure to make chocolate from bean to bar, in order to add more value to the cocoa bean, right at home.
Priscilla had always preferred the flavor of vanilla to chocolate, but after witnessing her sister create these titillating treats, her respect for the chocolate-making process rose to new heights. She is excited to embark on this creative journey with Kimberly. Not only does she serve as co-chef, she also brings her marketing and communications expertise to this venture.” Priscilla shared during the interview.
The sisters secured most of the funding for their start- up business through savings and support from family. They have sacrificed countless friendships and modern comforts, persevered through various roadblocks in their quest to write their own story as female African entrepreneurs.
Though the journey is not yet over, the results of their determination are already being realised. They were awarded the ‘Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship programme for manufacturing 2016’ which they consider a very humbling honour.
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