As an answer to the market organic products growth in Europe and the United States within the category of fine chocolate, our company decided to confront the challenge of getting the organic certification as Cocoa Republic and a task force in various areas was formed which implied: Quality Management, a Raw Materials and Materials Warehouse, a Chocolate Plant, General Services, a Cocoa Republic Research and Development and a gathering center in Vinces.
The organic certified products come from agricultural productive processes without the use of any chemical substance such as fertilizers, pesticides, etc. A joint and exhaustive work in all mentioned areas came true and we managed to develop a 100 grams Cocoa Republic organic chocolate bar “Comunidad de Vinces”, with 75 % of Cacao solids, whose sensorial attributes, specific characteristics and requirements for this special market were properly evaluated.
The approval process took around a month and was based in the existing documentation system for the existing processes such as BPM's (Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura = Good Manufacturing Practices) ). Basc System, and ISO 9001 quality documentation system (manuals, procedures and instruction manuals) which contributed to get this certification.
Three certificates were obtained:
- Organic Certificate NOP (National Organic Program) from the USA Agriculture Department (USDA).
- The European Economic Community Certificate EEC (Council Regulation).
- Registry Certificate No 287 from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAGAP).
Finally, this type of product, allows Confiteca to contribute to agro industrial development among little farmers who work in our Vinces Collecting Center, since only 10 % of the bar net margin goes straight to them as social support. This project has been called “Comunidad Vinces” which focuses in the little farmers training in harvesting, after harvest plants maintenance, nurseries and agricultural sustainability.
We are sure this new certified chocolate organic bar will find its niche at the international market helping us to even more differentiate from our competitors.
