Godiva (chocolatier)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Godiva (pronounced go-die-vah) is a chocolate manufacturer, founded in 1926 in Brussels, Belgium and introduced in the United States in 1966 by the Campbell Soup Company (who purchased the company in 1972). Godiva was founded by chocolatier Joseph Draps and is named in honor of the legend of Lady Godiva.
Godiva has more than 270 specialty shops in the US, Europe, and Asia. Godiva also operates over 1,000 additional outlets in department and specialty stores throughout North America. Additionally, the company issues six seasonal mail-order catalogs a year. Besides chocolates, Godiva also sells truffles, coffee, cocoa, biscuits and other items arranged in gift baskets. Godiva's signature package is the Gold Ballotin (French for “small, elegant gift box”), which they relaunched in September 2006. It also produces seasonal and limited edition chocolates with special packaging. Fresh dipped fruit is also available in all boutiques.
The majority of Godiva chocolates sold in the US are also produced in the US, using many of the same Belgian recipes, ingredients and processing methods as in the Brussels plant. Godiva Chocolates are made from high quality ingredients and are relatively expensive, even compared with more exclusive, but lesser-known, brands like Valrhona or Michel Cluizel.[1]
Oprah Winfrey, during her talkshow, has expressed a strong liking for these chocolates, thereby making them a staple in pop culture.
There is also a Godiva Liqueur which comes in Original, White Chocolate, Cappuccino, and Chocolate Cream flavors. Godiva Liqueur is 15-17% alcohol by volume.
[edit] Profit & Employment
Despite the high quality of the ingredients used to manufacture their chocolate, Godiva's prices are criticized by some as being superfluously excessive. The company has a 87% profit margin; a USD$42.00 box of chocolate only costs $7.00 to make.[citation needed] Despite this, their starting employees are paid approximately the same as McDonald's pays their employees.[citation needed] and are expected to adhere to high-status customer service standards which are perhaps more befitting of a hotel employee or a waiter at an expensive restaurant.
[edit] Refereces
- ^ Valrhona May Be Best, but Not Most Expensive : For Chocolate Lovers, Offer a Taste of Paradise by Conrad de Aenlle International Herald Tribune, retrieved March 19 2007
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a food and/or confectionery corporation or company is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This confectionery-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
