Georgia is becoming an increasingly attractive country for foreign investors in terms of agricultural development. A clear example of this is the meeting of Daniel Bloch, CEO of chocolate manufacturer Camille Bloch, and Mamuka Bakhtadze, the then Prime Minister of Georgia, at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2019. The main topic of discussion at the meeting was Camille Bloch's plans to develop a hazelnut plantation on 651 hectares of land in Lagodekhi and create up to forty new jobs. The Swiss manufacturer wants to ensure long-term access to high-quality raw materials in cooperation with the Georgian side.
Firm Portrait
Who is behind the company Camille Bloch? Camille Bloch is a Swiss chocolate manufacturer in the Jura in the canton of Bern. The company produces 3,700 tons of various types of chocolate every year and its annual turnover is around 60 million US dollars. 20% of production is exported. The company employs around 180 people and this family-run business with a history of ninety years is still one of the most important employers in the entire region.
Camille Bloch's most famous product is the Ragusa chocolate, created in 1942. The product was created during World War II, when raw materials such as cocoa were hard to obtain due to the naval blockade. The founder of Camille Bloch used the problem to his advantage. The idea arose to replace the chocolate with a filling of ground and whole nuts. The chocolate and filling were poured layer by layer into flat molds and cut into 50g. chocolate bars. This is how the typical Ragusa shape was born. Ragusa is still produced according to this recipe today.
After World War II, consumer habits changed, mobility increased. More and more people needed to snack on the go. This made Ragusa a trendsetter for the chocolate lord throughout the country.
Camille Bloch still holds a special place in the highly saturated Swiss chocolate market with its high-quality niche products. In addition to chocolates such as the famous Ragusa and Tornino, Camille Bloch's assortment also includes a number of exclusive liqueur chocolates.
Camille Bloch is embracing the healthy eating trend and is increasingly producing products with less sugar and nuts. In addition, it is also offering consumers smaller portions of its existing products.
Camille Bloch has a market share of around 5%. According to the Brand Association, Ragusa ranked 5th among the most dynamic and trusted brands in Switzerland in 2019.
