MS3 AGRI-VENTURES, manufacturer of Halalraw cacao products, is now manufacturing Halal dark chocolates made from theirown cacao tablea.

 Before deciding into production of darkchocolates, MS3 agri-ventures specializes in production of tablea, powder,nibs, and tea from cacao. “We saw that the raw products are not as marketableso we decided to develop other products. So we came up with these value addingdark chocolates. We know that chocolates are fast-selling because it is readyto eat. The coffee shops can also use this as ingredient to their products,”MS3 Agri-Ventures CEO and managing director Neil “Abdul Kareem” Q. Santillansaid.

Their dark chocolates are available in 50percent, 65 percent, and 75 percent varieties. Their 50 percent was given thename Bonchoc or “Bean of Nature Chocolate”.

They first introduced and launched the newproducts in public during the 1st International Exhibition in Malaysia whichwas conducted last January. However, a month before that, they had alreadysupplied stocks to an event of the Department of Tourism at Royal Mandaya.Slowly, their product was introduced to the consumers.

The chocolates are available in 20-gram and50-gram packages. Their 20g is available for P35 or a discounted price of P100for 3 pieces. The 50g chocolates are priced at P65 or a discounted price of P50for orders made for at least 50 pieces.

Santillan said they had just signed acontract with one of the major supermarkets in the country allowing them tosupply to 13 of its branches nationwide. He said, as they are still finalizingsome documents and the supermarket branches preparing racks to display theirchocolates, they target that their products will be available by March of thisyear.

However, anyone interested to buy theirproducts can do so now. Orders can be made through their Facebook page MS3Agriventures or through email ms3_agriventures@yahoo.com.

As they have first introduced the productsto Malaysia through an international exhibit, booking orders from Malaysia fortheir products had already been made. Santillan said they are just preparingtheir export documents but a memorandum of understanding between MS3Agri-Ventures and a Malaysian company distributing Halal products had beensigned.

Part of the MOU is the agreement that thesaid Malaysian company will be the sole distributor of MS3 Agriventures’ productsin Malaysia.

“These Halal products are important notjust for us, Muslims but for all because it has undergone hygienic process. Theraw materials were inspected, how you made the product, until the packaging. Itshould really be clean. There are protocols in the operation and productionthat needs to be followed. Your packaging also needs to be made by a Halalcompany as well,” Santillan said.

 Inconnection with their efforts to continually promote Halal products in thePhilippines, MS3 Agriventures’ cacao tablet was awarded with Asia Halal BrandAwards in Malaysia.

By Jennie P. Arado

Read more:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2018/02/06/halal-dark-chocolate-makes-wave-587595