World Confectionery Conference audience gains global first taste of Oumé chocolate

Among many highlights of this year’s World Confectionery Conference, audience members had a global first opportunity to sample the new Oumé chocolate series which has been under development this year, writes Neill Barston.

The company, which has been forged by former Chelsea and Ivory Coast footballer Salomon Kalou and his wife Karina Ferreira, a Brazilian-born former model, who serves as its creative director, aims to build what is aiming to be the first globally-recognised brand to stem from West Africa.

Marc Donaldson, chief chocolate officer for the company, was among attendees at the event, and offered samples of the ambitious project’s dark and milk varieties, which he has been forging over the past months in the wake of an initial launch for the business held in London this summer.

Confectionery Production was among those attending that event, in which Salomon Kalou explained his passion for wanting to help drive forward a business that had strong connections with his roots – with the company being named after his home town in Ivory Coast.

Speaking at the London launch, he said that cocoa had featured in his own childhood, with a small plantation owned by the family, though he conceded he was not aware of its notable potential.

“I came across cacao helping my parents on their farm after school, but I didn’t know for sure what it was and what products you could create from it. Growing up there was a simple life, going to school, playing football at the weekend and helping the family,

“I am very proud to have been a footballer, going from Oumé and Abidjan, and on to London, and then playing for one of the biggest clubs in Chelsea, which was a really big honour for me. It was special, as I feel that I was one of the luckiest to have come out from my home country.

Salomon Kalou speaking at the launch this week of the Oume brand, including plans for a new premium chocolate range, Oume. Picture: Mustard

“So I think that we can do the same with this product – there’s no African ranges that are becoming global, so we are aiming to be the first to do this. So, as I did with my football career, I sincerely hope that we can take a product from Oumé with this story, and make it a big product,” he explained of its aspirations for the brand, which has positioned itself in the premium confectionery space. 

Confectionery Production understands that the chocolate range, which is potentially being linked to other luxury brand items as part of a wider product offering, is due to gain a full commercial launch towards the end of 2025.