A nibchoc new year…

nibchoc has moved into 2009 brimming with new ideas and a fighting spirit. For many these are very difficult, uncertain times but we are determined to succeed and spread the word about the value and benefits of nibchoc. We strongly believe that health and wellbeing should now be firmly entrenched at the top of all our priorities, as should fostering local communities and trade. nibchoc is a business that is very much about sharing nutritional and nurturing food throughout the community, not generating huge profits.

Nibchoc in Oxford

At a local level, nibchoc has become a recognised product in Oxford and people continue to give tremendously helpful feedback. (One half of nibchoc often hangs around a certain salad bar in Oxford just for the thrill of hearing people talk about nibchoc - nibchoc prizes awarded if you can spot her!). Our local community is extremely important to us and the student population is a very valued part of that, so thanks to all those students who’ve discovered nibchoc’s power to get you through an essay crisis or mad exam preparation. Thanks to all our local supporters we have been able to move out of the home kitchen and into new business premises in Oxford (behind the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Centre in St Ebbes).

At the end of last year, we also had a tremendous local response at The Green Christmas Fair at Oxford Town Hall, as well as at the Christmas Market in Manzil Way. The particular joy at these events was having the opportunity to meet people who would not normally consider trying an ‘alternative’ food product. There were some particularly special moments: discussing with a diabetic the benefits of agave nectar and yacon root as good alternative sweeteners and hearing him say ‘it tastes too naughty to be good for you’ (a top contender for a new slogan!), selling a whole load of bars to a lovely 12 year old lad who really wanted a healthy snack for his school lunch box, and the gym fanatic with bulging biceps who bought a stack because he knew in his heart of hearts that a sugar-loaded energy bar was probably not that good for you after all.

As for getting out and meeting you all some more, we are hoping to do even more local markets in coming months, time permitting. Currently, we continue to do East Oxford Farmers’ Market once a month (EOFM is to be relaunched behind Tesco on the Cowley Road on February 7th - how’s that for local competition?!) and we are now represented at Willowbrook and Wallingford Markets. We will be getting out the thermals to do Headington Farmers’ market for the first time at the end of February (27th) - see www.headingtonmarket.net. Do come and say hi!

New nibchoc varieties and products!

We have been playing around with new recipes in the nibchoc kitchen. We had a great response to our Christmas Special Edition spiced nibchoc (great in front of a real fire and a glass of white port!). This cinnamon/clove/nutmeg/ginger nibchoc delight will most likely come back as our ‘Winter nibchoc’ considering the terrific feedback we received.

Valentine’s Day sees the release of a Vanilla and Rose Petal ‘Love Bite’. We think that the loveheart-shaped bite is the ideal shape for sharing….not just for the 14th of February but any loving time!!

Easter and Mother’s day will also see something new from nibchoc, so watch this space! We also have a diabetic-friendly but sensationally tasty nibchoc sauce currently in development, which we are particularly excited about. We see this as something you can spread, pour and even use as a base for a warming hot or cold chocolate drink.

nibchoc expands and goes to London!

We continue to branch out nationally and to Europe. We have recently sent nibchoc to Ireland, Spain, Germany and Bulgaria. We are delighted to be supplying nibchoc to three outlets in Bristol, as well as to outlets in Chipping Norton, Worcester, Manchester, London, and we hope to many more places in the future… If you know of somewhere that nibchoc should be sold, do let them know about us or let us know about them.

The biggest piece of news is that we have been selected to take part in The Real Food Festival at London’s very own Earl’s Court - the biggest Farmer’s Market in the country! It’s a massive 3-day event (8-10 May) and you must come (www.realfoodfestival.co.uk, enter code 3WEN8 for a nibchoc customer discount). So for us it’s off with the pinny and on with the smart gear into the big wide world.

Finally, we are extremely proud to be a part of fundraising efforts for an important UK children’s charity, Daisy’s Eye Cancer Fund, which raises money and awareness for Childhood Retinoblastoma (www.daisyseyecancerfund.org). Now you know about it!

Rachel @ ‘nibchoc’