The Contour of Luxury Fall/Winter 2018 | Page 383

‘57 Chocolate ‘57 Chocolate Ever since I was child I have loved to eat chocolate. It was is my Ever since I was child I have loved to eat chocolate. It was and and still still is my favorite treat. having form of dessert, chocolate is always included. favorite treat. If I If am I am having any any form of dessert, chocolate is always included. eaten lot chocolate of chocolate in my time, I never gave much thought I’ve I’ve eaten a lot a of in my life life time, but but I never gave much thought to to where it came from or how it was made—not until 2014. I was working where it came from or how it was made—not until 2014. I was working an an office growing quite restless an urge to out be out there creating office job job and and was was growing quite restless and and felt felt an urge to be there creating or building something—anything! I spoke to our about that’s or building something—anything! I spoke to our dad dad about this this and and that’s when he began to speak to me about business entrepreneurship. knew when he began to speak to me about business and and entrepreneurship. He He knew mom would moving back to Ghana retirement that that he he and and our our mom would be be moving back to Ghana for for retirement and and encouraged Priscilla to consider moving back encouraged both both Priscilla and and I to I consider moving back starting a business. “After there is much need and and starting a business. “After all all there is much need and and opportunity business in Ghana,” he said. I was opportunity for for business in Ghana,” he said. I was sold sold on on idea, decided I would resign from the the idea, and and decided that that I would resign from my my job job whenever decided to retire. retirement came whenever our our dad dad decided to retire. His His retirement came a a lot sooner I had imagined. I resigned knowing lot sooner than than I had imagined. I resigned knowing that that I’d I’d be moving to Ghana to start a business. be moving to Ghana to start a business. The The problem was—I know what only only problem was—I did did not not know what business would I did of research business that that would be. be. I did a lot a lot of research of praying, seeking God’s direction and and a lot a lot of praying, seeking God’s direction right to pursue. In the midst of all for for the the right idea idea to pursue. In the midst of all a group of friend’s from church invited this, this, a group of friend’s from church invited a trip to visit of Switzerland’s largest me me on a on trip to visit one one of Switzerland’s largest chocolate factories Cailler. With chocolate factories Cailler. With my my love love for for all things chocolate there no way I could all things chocolate there was was no way I could such invitation. factory pass pass on on such an an invitation. On On that that factory I was harsh reality visit visit I was hit hit with with the the harsh reality that that the the majority of Swiss chocolate made with, majority of Swiss chocolate was was made with, cocoa, could be found or grown in Switzerland, cocoa, that that could not not be found or grown in Switzerland, in Ghana other parts of Africa. I could understand but but in Ghana and and other parts of Africa. I could not not understand Ghana could grow ingredient how how Ghana could grow the the key key ingredient needed in chocolate produce little needed in chocolate yet yet produce very very little chocolate itself. I thought, “This chocolate itself. I thought, “This has has to to change. How it really be make to make change. How hard hard can can it really be to good chocolate?” answer: pretty good chocolate?” The The answer: it’s it’s pretty challenging, it was challenging, but but it was then then that that the the idea idea born. was was born.