Chuao Chocolatier Tantalizes With Maple Bacon Bar, Teases With Ravishing Rocky Road

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 18, 2012) - Chuao Chocolatier, an award-winning chocolate company known for blending unique flavors, today unveiled the much-anticipated Maple Bacon and Ravishing Rocky Road bars at the 58^th annual Summer Fancy Food Show (Booth #3741). Maple Bacon delights with a sweet and savory combination of maple syrup crystals, crispy bites of all-natural bacon and a touch of bonfire smoked sea salt enveloped in creamy milk chocolate. Wrapped in Chuao Chocolatier's sultry new packaging, the Maple Bacon bar is a glimpse of the company's brand makeover to be revealed in late fall. Chuao also offered a tempting preview of its Ravishing Rocky Road bar -- a silky milk chocolate bar filled with all-natural, vegan marshmallows and salted caramelized almonds, which will be available this fall to commemorate the company's 10^th anniversary.

"We have been repeatedly asked by retailers and customers to create a chocolate bar with bacon, but have waited until now to put our unique 'Chuao spin' on that coveted combo," said Master Chef Michael Antonorsi, co-founder of Chuao Chocolatier. "Our Maple Bacon bar is about the chocolate first and foremost -- its creamy sweetness lays the perfect foundation for the maple syrup. Then, sprinkled through, are delightfully crunchy little bites of uncured bacon with a bit of smoky salt. The finished product is a divine handcrafted bar destined to go on everyone's must-have list."

Chuao Chocolatier also unveiled a 60-calorie mini chocolate bar: the Sweet & Salty ChocoPod. Certain to become a staple in purses across America, the two-bite delight features a touch of sea salt swirled into Chuao's premium blend of milk chocolate. Sweet & Salty will be sold for $1 at retailers across the country.

Enhancing the 'lovability' of each product is the new packaging, which provides a sneak peek of Chuao Chocolatier's brand makeover set to debut in late fall 2012 in celebration of the company's 10^th anniversary. The new logo and bar/ChocoPod packaging was unveiled at the Summer Fancy Food Show with the remainder of packaging (e.g., gift boxes, gourmet specialty items, etc.) and new web site design revealed at the anniversary celebration.

"There is a playfulness about Chuao Chocolatier that is reflected in everything we do -- each flavor and product we develop is intended to create pleasure," said Sergio Alvarez, chief executive officer of Chuao Chocolatier. "Our new image is designed to do the same. We expect our cafes to be the chic gathering place, our bonbon boxes the perfect gift and our bars the everyday indulgence."

The Maple Bacon Bar is available in Chuao Chocolatier cafes, major retailers and online at www.chuaochocolatier.com for an MSRP of $4.99.

About Chuao Chocolatier
Chuao Chocolatier, located in San Diego, Calif., creates culinary-inspired confections by blending all-natural ingredients with its own premium blend of ethically sourced chocolate, featuring cacao from its founders' native Venezuela. Master Chef Michael Antonorsi and his brother Richard started Chuao Chocolatier in 2002 with the intention of arousing the senses with unusual, unexpected and delicious chocolate experiences. And 10 years later, the company continues to delight with award-winning products, including the best-selling Firecracker bar and truffle, Potato Chip bar and Spicy Maya hot chocolate. Chuao Chocolatier offers chocolate bars, ChocoPods (mini chocolate bars), hot chocolate, bonbons and other gourmet chocolate confections at Chuao Chocolatier Cafés and fine retailers nationwide including Whole Foods Market, Crate & Barrel, and Dean and Deluca. For additional information or to shop the company's online store, visit www.chuaochocolatier.com.