Bean to Bar: How Chocolate Around the World Originates in Roswell

You may not know that chocolatiers all over the world rely on a Roswell company to keep them in business, but Andal Balu, the owner of CocoaTown in Roswell, is reveling in just such an acknowledgement from her industry. CocoaTown was recently awarded the "Fine Chocolate Recognition of Excellence Award for Innovation in Fine Chocolate Products" by the Fine Chocolate Industry Associations (FCIA).

"We are really humbled to receive this honor," she told Roswell Patch. "We are indebted to all our customers who helped us to create these special machines and who have nominated us and voted for us."

CocoaTown, a sister company of kitchen appliances maker Inno Concepts Inc., creates unique equipment needed by chocolatiers to undertake the different steps of chocolate processing - from cocoa beans to chocolate bar. The company started about five years ago after Balu noticed that chocolate was getting more recognition for its nutritional value. 

"Small chocolatiers wanted to make chocolate from a single origin, ethically traded beans, and create dark chocolate with less sugar than the commercially available chocolates," she said.

The company designed, developed and distributed ECGC melangers and grindeurs which grind cocoa nibs for 80 to 90 hours so the chocolate is able to "melt in your mouth," according to Balu.

The machines are specifically designed for small to medium size chocolate manufacturing companies.

"As one of our customers put it recently, our machines enabled non-McGuyvers to get into chocolate business," she said. "These machines are also being used by health conscious customers to make their own nut butters, rice milk, almond milk, tahini, hummus and more."

The company, which has three employees in Roswell and is looking to hire two more this month, has helped supply chocolatiers with equipment in over 40 countries.

"In the USA alone more than 300 businesses have been successful because of our machines," said Balu.

Currently they are working to expand the product line.

"The best part of being in this business is the pleasure we get when we meet our customers who thank us for putting them in business," said Balu.

For more information about CocoaTown visit the website.