Tell us a bit about Bennetto
Bennetto Natural Foods was founded by Lucy Bennetto, a high school English and Drama teacher who happened to love chocolate. Lucy made her first chocolate bars from scratch in 2010. The journey began from the kitchen bench top with a spice grinder, a box of organic cocoa beans, and a few eager students as taste testers.
This led to a curious desire to see first-hand how the cacao beans were grown; Lucy travelled to the Dominican Republic. This was the moment she saw how ethical sourcing from an organic and Fairtrade cocoa supply was imperative to her values of making chocolate and how these practices improve lives and the quality and flavour of cocoa. She continued to create for herself 2kg batches that were high in cocoa, natural, organic, and sourced from Fairtrade cooperatives Lucy had visited. And continued to use her students as free guinea pigs.
Thirteen years on, Lucy’s chocolate is still made with the same values, dedication to taste, ethical sourcing and quality. The test kitchen remains in Christchurch from the garage convert where it all began, and all new product development still begins its life there. However, due to its ability to scale sustainably and organically, it is now made by Switzerland’s leading sustainable chocolate manufacturer and enjoyed by conscious consumers across the world. Her passion for health, organic food, and protecting nature continues. She is dedicated to using the brand Bennetto as a platform for social and environmental impact.
Tell us about the latest products on Bennetto’s stand
We have 9 different flavours that we will launch in the UK: Organic Ecuador Dark 70%, Organic Ecuador Dark with Coconut Flakes, Organic Ecuador Dark Mint, Organic Ecuador Dark Salted Caramel, Organic Ecuador Dark Orange with Chili, Organic Ecuador Dark Raspberries, Organic Ecuador Dark Toasted hazelnuts, Organic Madagascar Dark Coffee, and Organic Madagascar Dark 82%.
Why is exhibiting at the Natural Food Expo an unmissable opportunity for Bennetto?
The Natural Food Expo is our launchpad into the UK market. We did a soft launch via Amazon UK in October and the results after 4 weeks: Top 100 chocolate brands – Results after 5 weeks: Top 50 chocolate brands – Results after 5 weeks: Top 50 desired gifts.
Meet Bennetto on stand Q57.
Register to visit the Natural Food Expo HERE.