LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
In Johannesburg, South Africa, true chocolate lovers who are constantly on the search for the purest of taste sensations and the highest quality ingredients, know there is one destination to choose for their chocolate fix. Chocoloza, the brainchild of entrepreneur and passionate chocolatier, Vicki Bain, combines the best Belgian chocolate with the finest local, fresh African ingredients. The result is a taste sensation unlike anything else you will taste in the chocolate world.
Chocoloza has long built a reputation for creating some of the finest, most beautifully created, and ultimately delicious artisan chocolates on the market in South Africa. The company’s famous handmade chocolates are lovingly made each day at the Chocoloza workshop at 44 Stanley in Johannesburg, South Africa.
This month, in response to the current CoronaVirus outbreak and social distancing challenges, founder Vicki Bain is coming to the rescue for chocolate lovers who need a treat during these tough times. Chocoloza is now launching a free delivery service across Joburg and Pretoria, in order to serve existing customers during social isolation and also to keep the company afloat in what is a tough economic climate. The entire Chocoloza team is stepping in to help with deliveries, ensuring that customers get their chocolate fixes when they need them.
Chocoloza has set up a Whatsapp business line, where people can get the product catalogue to view their favourite chocolate treats, place orders and make enquiries. The number for customers in Johannesburg and Pretoria is 0634035913. The usual Chocoloza email address of woza@chocoloza.co.za is also still available for people who prefer email.
With Easter coming up, customers in search of the perfect Easter eggs for beautiful gifting should look no further than Chocoloza. The company’s hand-painted ‘African Beauty’ Easter eggs (packed in plastic-free boxes made locally from 100% recycled board) are currently available for delivery and at the Chocoloza outlets at Dainfern Square, Checkers in Sandton City and 44 Stanley.
Speaking to founder Vicki Bain this week as the company deals with the immense challenges as the retail market suffers as as result of the CoronaVirus outbreak and customers choosing to stay at home instead of visiting retail centers, she stresses the importance of supporting small, artisan businesses such as Chocoloza during these times. She says:
“We are a team of 16 women who are all desperately trying to keep our business alive in a time where our bread-and-butter of people coming into our shops, and also events, have trickled to zero. In the last week, I have had someone on my team cancel their family holiday that they have been looking forward to and planning all year, I’ve had three of my team work through the night with me until a last minute project that we couldn’t turn down was completed at 5:20 am, and delivered to an astonished customer at 8am. They had phoned us the day before at 1:40pm saying, ‘I don’t expect you’ll be able to help us but just in case you can…’ I’ve had team members come in on their off days to make deliveries, people hitting the phone to reach customers and generate some income.”
Vicki also looked to reassure customers around the Chocoloza health and safety policies, practices and precautions, saying:
“We’ve also, of course, immediately implemented stringent changes to the way we work and interact with customers so that the risk of passing on any disease is minimized. We have moved our chocolate display at 44 Stanley so it is completely enclosed, we have put hand and surface sanitiser everywhere, and we have issued all our staff with masks. 44 Stanley as a centre for artisans and independent business owners has also been involved in helping each others’ businesses but also helping out the maintenance staff at the centre so they are supported and know what the implications and risks are and to help them handle that, and give them facts instead of scare stories.”
She adds:
“It’s been heartening to see how many of our friends and Chocoloza supporters have been reposting our Whatsapp Ordering line, how many of our neighbours are posting it on social media. It demonstrates that we really are #strongertogether. We are asking anyone to please share our Whatsapp number to any friends and family that might be interested in ordering chocolates for us. Just to repeat, out Whatsapp number is 0634035913.”
To find out more, visit the Chocoloza website www.chocoloza.co.za or call Vicki and her dedicated team directly on Whatsapp. Read the Chocoloza story previously published on Lionesses of Africa:
Vicki Bain, a South African chocolatier taking the country by storm with her unique brand of Belgian chocolates with a truly African twist - Lionesses of Africa
For all true chocolate lovers out there who are constantly on the search for the purest of taste sensations and the highest quality ingredients, there is a new, proudly African brand that is getting people talking. Chocoloza , the brainchild of entrepreneur and passionate chocolatier, Vicki Bain, c
Let’s support small, artisan businesses such as Chocoloza during these difficult times and buy local!