Exclusive: World Confectionery Conference chocolate tasting experience unveiled
With our World Confectionery Conference just a couple of weeks around the corner, we are delighted to reveal further detail on an exclusive additional element to our event in the form of its additional chocolate tasting experience.
Taking place on the morning of 13 September (at 11am), following morning from our main conference day in Brussels on 12 September (which features keynotes from Cargill Ferrero, Tony’s Chocolonely, Caobisco, and insights from FMCG Gurus and Mintel), this bonus activity sheds a valuable light on the Belgian capital’s rich confectionery history.
The chocolate tour of the heart of the city, which last 1.5 hours, will be led by Cathy Manlow, a former treasurer of the Academy of Chocolate, who has a wealth of industry experience.
As we have previously noted, the self-confessed ‘chocoholic’, who originally hails from New York, is perfectly placed to guide visitors to our event.
She started out as an apprentice Frederic Cassel in Fontainebleau, and then progressed to become Chief Chocolate Strategist at Rococo Chocolates in London, then Western European Brand Manager for confectionery giant, brand Barry Callebaut, followed by a position as Marketing Director at Pierre Marcolini, a pioneer of the Belgian artisan movement.
Her renowned tours have been directed via her website, The Cocoa Journey, which aims to inspire visitors to the city with showcasing the region’s confectionery excellence.
Speaking to Confectionery Production, she said: “It’s great that there are events such as the World Confectionery Conference, as it is informative, in having a line-up for it from across the confectionery industry, who are experts in their own field. Having access to them is a great thing, as during the conference day you may have your own questions for them and it allows you to make those connections, which is a rare thing in this digital age. While it’s good to have things online, it’s not the same as having that personal engagement.”
Enthusing about her venture, she explains that after a strong start to its operation before Covid-19, the pandemic years posed a notable challenge in that the major stream of tourists visiting the city ceased as travel restrictions affected the global travel market significantly.
However, she says that the picture thankfully improved last year notably, as the pent-up demand for visits to Belgium returned as restrictions were lifted, and the market is steadily building again in 2024.
“What I really like about chocolate tasting in Brussels is that it offers both its traditional Belgian taste of chocolate, and you also have these excellent artisans who are just waiting to be discovered by people – who maybe don’t realise that there’s more than the standard flavours that people are familiar with.
“There are some exceptional chocolatiers here, who spend time with ingredients and craftsmanship to create delicious bars and pralines here, and so that’s what excites me in bringing visitors to taste these kinds of chocolates,” explains Cathy, who adds that she has greatly enjoyed making the Brussels area her home for its distinctive culture and diversity, which she believed had made it a very different and pleasant place to live.
Confectionery Production Editor Neill Barston commented: “We look forward to welcoming Cathy to our conference event, as a member of the Academy of Chocolate in the UK, which is part of our editorial board. Her experience in the sector working previously for major players including Barry Callebaut has seen her gain an immense amount of industry knowledge that she will be looking forward to sharing with visitors to our conference on our special tour morning event.
“For those who have not visited Brussels before, the city has plenty to offer in terms of its confectionery connections, which the tour event will offer a great insight into, including the area’s claim to fame as a founder of the Praline market, as well as having its own traditional snacks that have wowed millions of visitors from around the world.”
- You can book on to the chocolate tasting tour for 13 September (which is run separately, costing €56 per person, via the following email [email protected]
