Write a commentA County Down Chocolate Maker has joined up with Fortnum & Mason one of the oldest and most luxurious department stores on the planet to help produce a 99% Emission-Free Sailboat Chocolate.
Family business Neary Nógs Stoneground Chocolate is situated between Killowen and Kilkeel and is Ireland’s first bean to bar chocolate maker. The journey of their Sailboat Chocolate might have started on the Caribbean island of Grenada but on the way it found itself on the shores of Carlingford Lough. Embarking on a mission that wouldn't have been out of place in a full length feature film Neary Nóg's got the raw chocolate blocks delivered thanks to local charity Silvery Light Sailing and a hard working rowing crew at Killowen.
Produced in the Caribbean by the world's first 'Farm to Store' craft chocolate makers, the new naturally grown and certified organic Sailboat Chocolate is 99% emission-free.
Fortnum’s set out to transport this remarkable chocolate all the way from the Caribbean to Piccadilly using as few emissions as possible.That meant transport by sailboat, electric van and even as a passenger on a horse and cart too.
The journey of their Sailboat Chocolate slates started on the Caribbean island of Grenada, where a small co-operative of organic cocoa farmers is transforming the cocoa-chocolate system one bean at a time. The Grenada Chocolate Company is an Organic Cocoa Farmers’ and Chocolate-Makers’ Cooperative with a radical new business model that resulted in the first “Tree to Bar” chocolate this century, adding all the value to the local economy in the village of Hermitage, St Patrick's. Each farmer is a shareholder in the company and is paid above the standard rate, with their factory workers being paid double the going rate for equivalent jobs.
The beans are then processed in a solar powered factory. While cocoa beans are normally shipped across the world to be made into a bar, Grenada Chocolate Company use zero emissions to craft their chocolate and beans that are fresh, rather than months or even years old.
Once 350kg of chocolate, in 25kg blocks, had been made by Grenada Chocolate Company it began its first stint on the wide-open sea on an engineless sailing boat called Tres Hombres. Manned by FairTransport, the chocolate sailed from Grenada to Den Helder in the Netherlands, but its days at sea were not over yet. Once it had reached Den Helder it began its second voyage on T/S Britta, with Silvery Light Sailing, to Carlingford Lough in Ireland.
Once arrived on our shores it began its journey to NearyNógs on the Mourne Coast, one of the oldest chocolate makers in Ireland. A passionate team of volunteers transported the chocolate to Killoween, on the Mourne Mountains shoreline, using traditional Drontheim rowing boats. From there it began a bumpy ride on horse and cart across 5.9 miles to NearyNógs
NearyNógs Stoneground Chocolate Makers craft exceptional confectionery in their solar-powered factory overlooking the Irish Sea. the Fortnum & Mason Sail Boat Chocolate was broken down into slates, tempered and packaged in recyclable, biodegradable packaging before the final leg of its adventure to Piccadilly.
It began its return journey from Neary Nógs, en route to the Fortnum & Mason Chocolate Wonderland, by horse and cart on its way to Rostrevor. It was then transported from the Mourne Mountains shoreline, once again, by volunteers in Drontheim rowing boats headed in the direction of Carlingford Lough. Here it was met by beautiful sailing boat, Klevia, whose white sails powered the chocolate by wind to Port Penrhyn, in Bangor, North Wales.
As the final leg of this sustainable journey was entirely on land, we sought our very own Fortnum & Mason electric vans to deliver our exquisite Sailboat Chocolate home to Piccadilly.
Now, you can play your part in this exciting story by visiting us in Piccadilly and trying it for yourself. Whether as a unique gift for a friend or as a treat for yourself, this is a chocolate like no other. You might call it chocolate on a mission.
Fortnum & Mason thanked everyone who helped make their project happen including Shane and Dorothy Neary from NearyNógs; Joanne Orr Carriages; FairTransport; Gerry Brennan from Silvery Light Sailin; The Carlingford Lough volunteers; Stephen Reid at Grafters Media and Chantal Coady OBE, founder member of the Academy of Chocolate, co-founder of The Chocolate Society and founder of Rococo Chocolates.
Check out a video of the journey below
