SWEET SUCCESS

CocoaTown is paving a path for the sustainable chocolate industry around the globe....Read More

27 GEORGIA FIRMS HONORED FOR BREAKING INTO NEW EXPORT MARKETS

Twenty-seven Georgia companies were honored this week with an annual recognition for their expansion of export sales into new markets over the previous year. 

While some were seasoned exporters that simply found buyers for their goods or services in one additional new country, at least three of the firms sold internationally for the first time ever in 2022. 

The Georgia Department of Economic Development doled out the GLOBE Awards — Georgians Leveraging Opportunities By Exporting — to the greatest number of firms in any year since the pandemic, with the total coming closer to that of years soon after the program was established in 2014....Read More

FOOD & DINING: A SWEET JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD

Andal Balu, in her conversation with Khabar, talks about their journey into the world of gourmet chocolate, their impact on helping create artisanal chocolatiers in India and around the world, and her tips on how to taste and buy chocolate.........Read More

2023 GLOBE AWARDS CELEBRATE GEORGIA EXPORTERS ACROSS DIVERSE INDUSTRIES

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced 27 Georgia business recipients of the 2023 GLOBE Award........Read More

Meet Andal Balu By Canvas Rebel

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andal Balu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andal below.

Andal, appreciate you joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers

We started to design, develop, manufacture and market specialty equipment to make craft chocolate from cocoa beans (called Bean to Bar chocolate) in 2006. We were creating a machine for a very niche market and were selling to customers who came looking for us. In 2009, we formed CocoaTown as a subsidiary of Inno Concepts Inc (our parent company). In 2012 we were invited to attend a chocolate festival in Brazil........Read More

Twenty-Five Georgia Companies Recognized for Expanding into 70 International Markets in 2021

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced the recipients of the 2022 GLOBE Award. Managed by the Department’s International Trade team, this state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that expanded sales to new international markets in the previous year. During calendar year 2021, the 25 GLOBE winners collectively exported to 70 countries.

“I am thrilled that so many of this year’s GLOBE winners are small businesses,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “Supporting small businesses and working with companies to bring opportunities to hardworking Georgians around the state has been a key goal during my time in office. Congratulations to this year’s winners, and thank you for your contributions to our Peach State!”.... Read More

Chairman Reed Reaffirms EXIM's Commitment to Women Exporters During Atlanta Mayor's Office of International Affairs Women + Trade Event

WASHINGTON - Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) President and Chairman Kimberly A. Reed yesterday addressed more than 50 participants at a Women + Trade virtual panel, hosted by the Atlanta Mayor's Office of International Affairs.

Chairman Reed highlighted how EXIM provides support to minority- and women-owned businesses (MWOBs) through a dedicated group of specialists that work exclusively with MWOBs. She also discussed EXIM's temporary relief measures available to U.S. exporters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicole Woods, EXIM business development specialist, also participated as a panelist.......READ MORE

CocoaTown Mentioned in Georgia Trend Post - Global Power

CocoaTown, another Globe winner, found its niche by manufacturing equipment that enables small businesses to establish themselves as “bean-to-bar” chocolate makers. Balu Balasubramanian, who founded the 11-person company with his wife Andal Balu, says Cocoa- Town’s machines enable small players to enter a market previously limited to big companies. The Alpharetta company now exports to over 100 countries, and foreign sales account for more than three-fourths of its revenue... .......READ MORE

DC Chocolate Festival Recap

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the 5th edition of the DC Chocolate Festival took place at the French Embassy in Washington on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Organized by the DC Chocolate House, the sold-out event attracted 20 exhibitors and 1,300 visitors who spent the day tasting fine chocolate and deepening their connection with the people behind it.. .......READ MORE

Fine Chocolate Industry Association About Andal Balu

Andal Balu is CocoaTown's co-founder and currently serves on the Board Of Directors for the Fine Chocolate Industry Association.

Andal Balu and her husband Dr. M. Balu have been serial entrepreneurs for over two decades. They started their first company, InnoConcepts N.V. , in 1992 to address the unmet need for traditional equipment for authentic Indian cooking. Inno Concepts began distributing grinders and quickly expanded into a full suite of innovative equipment. .......READ MORE

Seventeen Georgia Companies Receive 2021 GLOBE Awards, Three Recognized as Exporters of the Year

Exporter of the Year, small company: Inno Concepts Inc. dba CocoaTown - The company’s “Empowering Chocopreneurs” webinar series saw international engagement from 25-40 different counties and helped increase its Q4 sales in 2020. Despite facing difficulties throughout the pandemic, CocoaTown was able to enter five new export markets. By changing its focus from being solely a supplier to becoming a valued resource and partner, CocoaTown demonstrated creativity, commitment, and leadership. .... READ MORE

MEET THE FEMALE BOSSES THAT ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

Greether shares the list of female bosses.......READ MORE

FCIA Raising The Bar - Startup Tips From CocoaTown

The fine chocolate industry is steadily growing as more and more consumers are realizing the benefits of healthier chocolate.  CocoaTown has been active in the craft chocolate movement since 2006, providing patented equipment to chocolate makers around the world.

As you can imagine, we have learned a few lessons on our journey that we think will help the adventurous chocolate maker startups. In this article, we share some of these tips with you.......READ MORE

THE WORLD IS STILL SHORT OF EVERYTHING. GET USED TO IT

Pandemic-related product shortages — from computer chips to construction materials — were supposed to be resolved by now. Instead, the world has gained a lesson in the ripple effects of disruption......READ MORE

Small Scale Bean to Bar Making Equipment and their Impact

This is a summary based on the work by Hinneh et al. (2019). 

For thousands of years, making chocolate required a metate, a small table-like mortar and pestle. The metate would be placed over a small flame, and cacao beans would be ground into a paste, with the heat from the flame helping to melt the fat from the cacao as it’s being crushed.

Today, large and expensive equipment is used to grind, refine, and fine-tune chocolate into a smooth luxurious product. Even for moderate size chocolate makers, equipment to make the chocolate itself can get started at around $30,000 USD. For chocolate makers who don’t have 30 grand to invest, they require more affordable options.

This research analyzed the various types of equipment suitable for small scale manufacturers ...... READ MORE

Particle size measurements and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of cocoa particles refined/conched by conical and cylindrical roller stone melangers

Article co-authored by Balu M. Balasubramanian co-founder of CocoaTown.

The particle size distribution (PSD) and the microstructure of the non-fat particles in chocolates are very important to the appearance, mouth feel and texture of the chocolate products. Refining/conching is critical to chocolate processing because most particle size reduction is made and the microstructure of the particles is developed in this process. Currently, the most commonly used comprehensive measurement method for chocolate products is using a laser scattering particle size analyzer, which is relatively expensive and inaccessible to small manufacturers. In this study, three potential alternative methods (micrometer, light microscopy image analysis and Hegman gauge) for the laser scattering method were used to measure the size of cocoa particles at different stages of refining/conching. Also, the influences of the sample weights of cocoa and melanger configuration (conical roller and cylindrical roller) on the efficiency of refining/conching were studied. The performances of the two melangers were similar, however, cylindrical roller stones tend to generate thin and flat particles during the first 4 h of refining..... READ MORE

 

Chocolate Making Startup Tips From CocoaTown

The fine chocolate industry is steadily growing as more and more consumers are realizing the benefits of healthier chocolate.  CocoaTown has been active in the craft chocolate movement since 2006, providing patented equipment to chocolate makers around the world.

As you can imagine, we have learned a few lessons on our journey that we think will help the adventurous chocolate maker startups. In this article, we share some of these tips with you......READ MORE

#WomenWhoTrade Micro-Grant Recipients

Mayor's Office of International Affairs, Atlanta (USA) has announced the recipients of #WomenWhoTrade Micro-Grant for 2021. We are happy that Andal Balu, Co-Founder of CocoaTown is one of the recipients. .....READ MORE

Meet the 2021 Women Export Cohort

CocoaTown President and Co-founder Andal Balu is one of the 26 female entrepreneurs in the first cohort of the Women Export University.....READ MORE

Women in Chocolate with Andal Balu Co-founder of CocoaTown

Andal Balu, Co-founder of CocoaTown, chocolate machine patent holders,
producers and manufacturers, speaks with Lauren Heineck......READ MORE

Andal Balu elected as new board member in FCIA

The new board reflects the diversity of FCIA’s growing membership. “We are excited that chocolate makers, chocolatiers, traders, specialty retailers and processors are well represented on our leadership team for the next two years,” stated Bill Guyton, Executive Director.....READ MORE 

Thirty-one Georgia Companies Receive 2020 GLOBE Awards, Four Recognized as Exporters of the Year

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced its International Trade division’s 2020 GLOBE Award recipients. This state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that entered new international markets in the previous year. During calendar year 2019, GLOBE winners from 17 counties across Georgia collectively entered 75 new international markets..READ MORE

Breaking Barriers: Interview With Andal Balu, CocoaTown

You have been in the industry for many years and currently serve on FCIA’s board of directors. Why do you think there is a lack of diversity in the fine chocolate industry and what can be done to remedy this?

 Affordability – FCIA events always happen in New York or San Francisco...READ MORE

Andal Balu mentioned in AAPI Heritage month

CocoaTown co-owner Andal Balu writes "I am grateful to City of Atlanta for highlighting me for AAPI Heritage Month spotlight. I am grateful to God for giving me an opportunity to live in the best city to live and have a business. Georgia has been rated as #1 State for entrepreneurs....READ MORE

Mayor’s Office of International Affairs Highlights Atlanta Women Exporters 

In an effort to celebrate women entrepreneurs and their contributions, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of International Affairs (MOIA) hosted “Women + Trade,” on April 30th, a virtual panel highlighting women exporters based in Atlanta, their impact on the global economy, and how they are managing and dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.....READ MORE

WOMEN+TRADE

In an effort to celebrate women entrepreneurs and their contributions, the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of International Affairs (MOIA) hosted "Women + Trade," on April 30th, a virtual panel highlighting women exporters based in Atlanta, their impact on the global economy, and how they are managing and dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.....READ MORE

SECTOR CACAOTERO PARTICIPARÁ EN CERTAMEN PARA EL COCOA EXCELLENCE PARIS 2021

La convocatoria la efectuó Anecacao para un concurso nacional clasificatorio, cuyas inscripciones se receptarán hasta el 16 de noviembre de 2020.

La promoción del cacao ecuatoriano de calidad y su diversidad, así como la demostración de los conocimientos y técnicas de los productores se pondrán en escena en la primera edición del concurso Cacao de Excelencia Ecuador 2020, clasificatorio al Cocoa of Excellence Paris 2021.....READ MORE

CHOCOLATE RÚSTICO 80% CACAO BEAN TO BAR DE ENRIC ROVIRA

Chocolate rústico 80% cacao bean to bar de Enric Rovira En el libro Chocolate. Pasión y ciencia, Enric Rovira ofrece su visión actualizada del chocolate y del cacao. Esta obra, que se puede adquirir en exclusiva en Books For Chefs, se convierte....READ MORE

HOW ARTISAN CHOCOLATIERS GOT INVENTIVE THIS DECADE

Chock-a-block with choices: From modifying an idli grinder to creating upcycled cotton waste wrappers, this was an inventive decade for artisan chocolatiers “We are not just in the business of making machines, but of creating chocpreneurs,” says Andal Balu over a phone call from....READ MORE

Best Valentine's Day chocolate: Bean-to-bar artisan brands

The nibs are 50 percent cocoa butter. Grinding them in an electric CocoaTown machine generates heat by the friction of two large rotating granite wheels. Within a few hours, there's enough heat to extract the natural creamy cocoa butter.....READ MORE

COM R$ 10 MIL, É POSSÍVEL TER SUA PRÓPRIA FÁBRICA DE CHOCOLATE

A maior parte dos negócios de chocolates no Brasil trabalha com o chamado chocolate de cobertura, ou seja, derrete barras prontas para criar subprodutos. A tendência, no entanto, é que cada vez mais empresas produzam através da amêndoa do cacau, em um processo do grão à barra, mais longo, caro e controlado. Geralmente, o investimento em uma unidade fabril é alto e afasta os empreendedores.....READ MORE

GLOBE AWARD WINNERS 2019

Today the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) International Trade division and GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson joined Governor Brian P. Kemp to announce the winners of Georgia’s sixth annual GLOBE Awards at an event at the Capitol. This state-led awards program highlights companies that entered into.....READ MORE

Recognition of Excellence

The Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA) is proud to host the Recognition of Excellence awards to recognize outstanding fine chocolate industry professionals and companies for their significant contributions to our segment of the industry. In hosting these awards, we aim to encourage fine chocolate professionals world-wide to explore their passion and innovate, set trends, and raise the overall quality of our industry.

These biannual awards are chosen by industry peers to recognize notable achievement and contributions to the fine chocolate industry. Anyone can make a nomination, and anyone in the industry can be nominated and can win. However, only FCIA members can vote......READ MORE

GLOBE AWARD WINNERS 2018

Georgia's fifth annual GLOBE (Georgia Launching Opportunities by Exporting) Award recognizes 40 companies who entered into a new international market in 2017. The 2018 winners are located across the state with employment ranging from 2 to 4000. Approximately 75% of the winners are small businesses with 100 employees or less. GLOBE winners collectively expanded their sales into 84 new countries and territories during 2017. Some of the more active markets include Colombia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Six of the 2018 GLOBE winners were first time exporters......READ MORE

GEORGIA HONORS 36 EXPORTERS FOR BREAKING INTO NEW MARKETS

Many represented the usual suspects, but this year’s GLOBE Awards honoring 36 Georgia-based exporters also included some companies new to selling their goods and services overseas. The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s international trade division doles out the awards to honor companies that have been able to....READ MORE

GEORGIA EXPORTER SPOTLIGHT: COCOATOWN

A Q&A interview with Andal Balu and Balu Balasubramanian, Owners County: Fulton Industry: Food Processing Equipment CocoaTown designs, develops, and distributes unique, multipurpose equipment to make gourmet chocolate bars from beans, nut butters and nut milks from nuts and other gourmet foods. What motivated your company to start selling....READ MORE

POLITICIANS, CEOS, CABBIES, COOKS… INDIANS IN AMERICA ARE HAVING A MOMENT

Indra Nooyi is possibly the most visible Indian-American CEO whose corporation PepsiCo is based in Purchase, New York. Dr. Balu M. Balasubramanian, a chemist, and his wife Andal Balu have recast the idli-grinder in a new avatar. Lavina Melwani @lavinamelwani....READ MORE

COCOATOWN IS REWARDED IN ATLANTA METRO EXPORT CHALLENGE

As well as being a Georgia GLOBE Award winner (see previous Newsmaker report), Cocoatown was among the top 10 companies receiving credits from UPS in the March 28, 2018 Atlanta Metro Export Challenge. The top 10 on March 29, 2018:CocoatownDustex LLCGF Health....READ MORE

ONE LAST TIME, GOV. DEAL PRAISES 40 GEORGIA EXPORTERS WHO CRACKED NEW MARKETS

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal meets with the state’s representatives from 12 countries. They promote Georgia products and recruit inbound investment. Gov. Nathan Deal this week headlined his last annual celebration recognizing Georgia companies exporting all over the world. During his customary speech at this year’s....READ MORE

Export Challenge Names First 28 Awardees to Receive $5,000

Seven judges of the Atlanta Metro Export Challenge have selected 28 companies out of nearly 100 applicants for $5,000 grants to help boost their export sales. 

The awardees are now semi-finalists in the second annual competition, which launched in 2016 thanks to a $200,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase. This year, the bank donated $100,000 toward the effort, joined by $25,000 in shipping credits from UPS and $5,000 from Partnership Gwinnett.....READ MORE

INNOVATION IN PROCESSING COCOA INTO CHOCOLATE:

For years, farmers have been selling cocoa as commodity where the price is set in a distant area of the world removed far away from the cocoa farmers. The cocoa farmers had no control or means to grow their income substantially....READ MORE

CHOCOLATE SUTRA

The humble grinder of idli batter is now a chocolate-making machine Mr. and Mrs. Balu started out selling grinders for idli-dosa batter. Improvising from there, and finding a market niche, they launched CocoaTown, which is now a recognized catalyst for the “bean-to-bar” industry amongst small scale....READ MORE

THE BEAN-TO-BAR PHENOMENON: ‘MICRO-BATCHING’ GROWS UP

This exciting stage of the American craft chocolate market is not unlike what happened in the mid-twentieth century to the California wine industry. At one end of the room, grubby brown beans are being dumped unceremoniously down a metal chute. At the room’s other....READ MORE

COCOA INDUSTRY TO BE EXPANDED

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, says the Government is committed to the expansion of the cocoa industry and will be offering increased support to stakeholders....READ MORE

THE WELL-TEMPERED BEAN, OR MY VISIT TO COCOATOWN (AKA DANDELION CHOCOLATE)

How can a person love something so much and know so little about it? For example, I love chocolate. In just about all forms. But what did I know about it, other than the way it makes me feel when I let a small square of it....READ MORE

THE KITCHEN-COUNTER CHOCOLATIERS

Obsessives are common in the world of cooking. They go down the rabbit hole of jury-rigged sous-vide machines, or spend two weeks lost in the 38-page bread recipe from the Tartine Bakery. They have cases of homemade lager in the hall closet and roast....READ MORE

FCIA INNOVATION IN FINE CHOCOLATE PRODUCTS AWARD

Innovation in Fine Chocolate Products – Andal Balu RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE IN FINE CHOCOLATE: The Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA) is proud to host the Recognition of Excellence awards to recognize outstanding fine chocolate industry professionals and companies for their significant contributions to our segment of the industry. We hope that by hosting these awards....READ MORE

THE EVOLUTION OF CHOCOLATE

Chocolate comes from the cacao bean. This is a basic fact, but it’s hard to imagine that this bean — or any bean — can be transformed into the rich, bitter, sweet, passion-inflaming substance we call...READ MORE