Chocolate lovers, read on for some delicious news.
Läderach, Switzerland’s largest chocolate retailer, just opened three locations on Long Island: Walt Whitman Shops, Smith Haven Mall, and Roosevelt Field Mall. This is part of an agreement to open 15 new shops in Simon properties, as well as 17 other locations. Adding to existing locations in Manhattan and Washington D.C., Läderach will have more than 35 storefronts nationwide by this fall.
The Roosevelt Field Mall location opened on Aug. 11 and was filled with customers within a matter of hours — and for good reason. The brand new store was filled to the brim with chocolates of all different kinds, in many types of flavors and forms: truffles, pralines, confectionery specialties, popcorn, and more. The large variety of chocolates made the store feel almost Wonka-esque (though perhaps with less of a chance of being escorted away by elves.)
Though this could easily overwhelm the senses, it was still clear to see the biggest draw of all — the FrischSchoggi. The word is Swiss-German slang meaning “fresh chocolate,” and it comes in large sheets of thick, fresh bark, ready for you to snap off and eat. Friends, couples, children, and grandparents alike gathered excitedly around the store window, amazed. Very few were able to resist coming in for a taste, and the friendly staff was more than happy to give customers tours of all their chocolate creations.
At the front counter, sheets of detailed truffles and pralines feature combinations of dark, milk, and white chocolate, as well as fillings of hazelnut, caramel, honey, and more. Many of these small, melt-in-your-mouth creations are finished with hand touches such as flakes of edible gold, honeycomb patterns, and chocolate stamps.
Läderach was first founded in 1962 by Rudolf Läderach, who is credited with revolutionizing the chocolate industry through his newfound method of truffle creation. The company continues to be family-owned and operated, with Läderach’s sons and grandsons continuing his legacy of innovation. Elias Läderach, head of innovation and production, is the current World Chocolate Master after competing against the world’s best chocolatiers in the highly competitive Cacao Barry World Chocolate Masters. His winning creation is available in Läderach stores.
The chocolate retailer owes its success not only to the innovation of its team, but also to the levels at which they are able to control the method of chocolate production. While some companies are only involved with the actual making of the chocolate, Läderach follows its creation from the bean to the bar.
Läderach products are exclusively sold in their own stores and online, and international stores receive weekly shipments in order to guarantee the chocolate’s freshness. Their ingredients are locally sourced from Swiss farmers, except for the cacao beans, which are not native to Switzerland. Instead, Läderach purchases these directly from cacao farmers and plants 4,000 cacao trees each year to offset their environmental impact and ensure sustainability.
So whether you have a chocolate craving or just want to take a look at some gorgeous edible creations, head over to Läderach!
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