Now the company’s general manager Angela Howell hopes those shareholders — and the wider city — will be proud of Ocho’s success at the New Zealand Chocolate Awards.
Ocho was awarded a gold medal for its 48% PNG milk chocolate, with the judges describing it "as a delicious well-executed chocolate bar which is creamy with a great snap".
The company also won a bronze medal for its short black chocolate bar, which incorporates ground coffee beans.
For Ms Howell, the success brought a feeling of vindication that doing things ethically could also be delicious and it was also an opportunity to pause and reflect on how far Ocho had come, she said.
The milk chocolate category was an important and competitive space. Ocho’s gifting products were also made out of its milk chocolate and it was "wonderful" to have it recognised, she said.
Born out of the ashes of Cadbury leaving the city, Ms Howell said Ocho also played an educational role, explaining the difference between ethical chocolate and "brown confectionery" which often came with child slavery implications.
Those visiting the factory were able to compare Ocho chocolate to what she described as "industrial chocolate" and to experience the mouth feel and taste of Ocho which was "so superior".
Johnty Tatham was named supreme winner at the awards with Lucid Chocolatier 68% Port winning ahead of 150 New Zealand-made chocolates from 31 chocolate makers and chocolatiers.
