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I just always thought that one day I would be let out of the box to spread my wings and fly and help people. I have never lost faith in what I want to do in the long run. We work and have jobs and do things, but we all can have faith in what we should be, its our right.
Can you tell us about the Chocolate Industry Network Event. Why is it such a unique industry event? Well, it’s small, it’s not heavily promoted and not everyone can come! The chocolate industry will quietly get on with the job of networking with each other on a senior level. Life is about people. I have interviewed so many interesting confectioners around the world and they all are interested in each other. So I created an event for them all to finally meet and create opportunities! I can’t wait to be there in 26th November in London and introduce everyone to everyone.
You have had more media coverage than any other unpublished author in the world! Why do you think your story captured the public imagination? I didn’t do anything, I represented something that consumers want to be more of. I noticed that opportunity and took it. A budding writer needs everything they can get. I find it easy to get into the papers and on TV and so on. Again, it happened so fast, but I had been preparing it all for a long time (30 years) just in case there was a plan for me!
Can we have a sneak preview of your book? What can we expect?
I have written a number of books now. I am now pitching and writing a Willy Wonka style real life story book about my crazy life, which it was! I am presenting it to one of the biggest agents in the country. I am still pinching myself that they are actually interested. But books are about publicity now. The world wants a real life Willy Wonka, I guess I am one, in an odd way, so the next step is to do just that and write the story that they want. You have to be what it is that’s wanted to succeed and success is the ability to be happy with the process of trying to become successful.
What does the future hold for you – both professionally and personally? Always expect the unexpected! I won’t go into too much detail but I wanted to experiment more in life and to see what happens if I just let myself be and made some basic decisions about realising my dreams. None of us know what will happen, but we are in control of the present moment that will effect tomorrow. I am very excited as things are happening now in Kennedy’s and in my personal life that enable me to ‘become’. I have had a tough first 30 years, with losing my father at 10 years old and an alcoholic mum, but it made me into what I am and now I am thankful for all the experience. I do believe that something big will happen and that is what faith is. It’s the in built resilience that enables us to never give up, no matter what. I have been trying to make it as a writer now for more than 25 years. Who knows the future? You can only hope that you have decided on is ‘planned’ in a cosmic sense, then you hit the jackpot! We all have one to win. I love publishing and the confectionery industry, but it does not mean that I do not love something else. Love is limitless. Besides we can only be what people imagine us to be and I hope that is something that they will love and I will love being.
kennedysconfection.com
News in brief Quality Street downsized
Nestlé has announced its 1Kg Quality Street tin will be downsized this Christmas – to 820g. The move will bring the confectionery product in line with Cadbury’s Roses and Heroes ranges. The reduction also includes shrinkages of liquorice allsort and wine gum packets. A Nestlé spokesman told The Guardian: “We are now bringing our standard Quality Street tin in line with other tins of sweets, which have reduced in size over the last few years. Quality Street continues to offer great value for money with the widest variety of sweets in one tin.” There was no mention of a proportionate price reduction, but Nestlé said the tin will carry a promotional price of £5. However, the confectionery giant added that the ultimate retail price will be at the discretion of show owners. Consumer groups said the size reduction equated to ‘hidden price rises’.
Nestlé added that a special 1.25Kg box will also be launched for ‘families who want to make Christmas extra special’.
Columbian cocoa bean prices fall 40%
Cocoa bean production in Columbia has sunk to lower levels than that of cocaine, according to new data from police and growers. The price of the chocolate ingredient has dropped 40% this year, while the cost of leaves processed into cocaine has maintained a steady level. Ciro Alfonso Ramirez from the National Cocoa Growers federation warns that that the figures have raised fears about Columbia’s chances of improving upon its status as South America’s third largest cocoa bean supplier. “If you make an effort to invest in cocoa and then get unprofitable prices, and someone else shows up and pays cash for the other stuff, the farmer migrates to what’s easier,” he told Bloomberg. Federation and U.N. data reveals that the number of hectares planted with coca leaves rose 3.2% in 2011, faster than the area sowed with cocoa. And despite a Government eradication programme, that is said to have resulted in a cocaine production slip of 1.4%, cocoa output slumped by an additional 8.4%. Coca crops can be harvested four times a year, more than cocoa, and around 62,000 families grow the leaves, compared with 16,000 families growing the chocolate making beans.
Kraft extends Cadbury / Philadelphia product range
Kraft Foods UK has unveiled its latest snacking product, as part of its Cadbury/Philadelphia programme. The new Philadelphia/Cadbury Snack incorporates the cheese combined with milk chocolate and mini oat biscuits. According to Kraft, the snack will build on the company’s success with the original combination snack launched in January, which has resulted in retail sales of £6.5million.
Kennedy’s Confection September 2012 7
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