Daniel Bloch gains major European Candy Kettle Award
European Candy Kettle winner 2024, Daniel Bloch. Pic: European Candy Kettle
Daniel Bloch, CEO and chairman of the board at Chocolats Camille Bloch, Switzerland, was in celebratory mood after claiming the coveted 2024 European Candy Kettle Award, writes Neill Barston.
The long-established accolade has more than 50 years of history, marking the achievements of prominent chocolatiers and sweets manufacturers around the continent, with past winners including Lindt & Sprungli, Ferrero, Katjes, Colian and Austria’s Zotter.
This year’s award ceremony took place recently at the Hotel Bellevue Palace in Berne, with the Swiss firm being recognised for the quality of its brands including Ragusa and Torino.
As the event organisers noted, the family-owned business has a long history, operating in its third generation and has developed an innovative, sustainable and robust structures. This has enabled it to navigate some notable industry challenges, such as rising cocoa prices,hazelnut availability, and the slight downward trend in the Swiss chocolate market.
Camille Bloch launched with Ragusa their first 50g-chocolate bar in 1942. They celebrated their 80th Anniversary in 2022. The latest invention is SO NUTS Coffee, however Daniel’s most successful invention was Ragusa Blond, a unique blond chocolate that that has gained the company recognition in Switzerland and Europe.
Significantly, Bloc, who is married to Esther Schönenberger Bloch with whom he has three children, has continued to expand its operations, with the business set to establish a hazelnut farm in Georgia
covering 650 hectares.
Speaking on gaining his accolade, he said: “This award represents to me, far more than just personal recognition. It symbolises the collective accomplishments made possible through the trust and support of those
around me and the fulfilment that comes from building something lasting, with my family, who believed in me; my colleagues, who stood by me; to aligning our dreams with the resources we have and the expectations we face.”
In addition, he believed that the long heritage of the business remained a notable element of its success, as the company has continued to bolster its position within Europe.
He added: “Chocolats Camille Bloch was founded by my grandfather in 1929 in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. In 1935, he relocated the company to Courtelary, a rural village at the center of the watchmaking and precision industry in the northern part of our canton.
“Since then, we have been producing our specialty chocolates from bean to bar right here. Our flagship brands include Ragusa, introduced in 1942 during World War II when cocoa was scarce, and Torino, another filled chocolate, launched in 1948.”
On what drives his continued mission to expand the business, he added; “I’m often reminded of what Walter von Känel, the longtime president of Longines Watches, once told me: to achieve success, you must stay within your league, maintain consistent quality, and be clear about where to focus your greatest efforts.”
