Askinosie to send chocolate across the pond

The Springfield-based small-batch manufacturer of premium dark chocolate is scheduled to send the order to Swedish specialty foods distributor ScandChoco today. Owner Shawn Askinosie and his staff celebrated the accomplishment Friday afternoon at the chocolate factory, 514 E. Commercial St.

Those in attendance were encouraged to sign boxes neatly stacked atop the pallet bound for Ramlosa, Sweden, and to munch on Swedish pancakes. ScandChoco owner Martin Jorgenson, whom Askinosie met while learning how to make chocolate in Ecuador, briefly spoke about the business partnership via webcam from Sweden.

“I’m really glad to be able to buy his chocolate,” Jorgensen said, adding that samples at a recent trade show were popular with Swedes. “People thought it was really good and looked nice.”

Askinosie said the shipment, which weighs in at nearly 1 metric ton, includes everything his business sells, including chocolate bars and morsels, cocoa nibs (kernels) and powder. Askinosie said he expects to send about five or six more similarly sized shipments to ScandChoco this year.

Through Jorgenson’s connections, Askinosie said he also hopes to line up another distribution agreement with a distributor in Munich, Germany. He said the company’s objective is to make its products widely available throughout Europe.

“We’re pushing that,” he said. “It’s a big strategy for us.”

Askinosie said the shipment was cost-effective for ScandChoco in light of the dipping value of the U.S. dollar. Native Swede Jan Stahle, a Harry Cooper Supply employee who attended today’s event, said a dollar was worth about 11 Swedish crowns six years ago. Today, a dollar is worth about 6 crowns, he said.

Stahle said he’s impressed by the potency of Askinosie’s chocolate bars, which are at least 70 percent cocoa.

“I’m confident the Swedes are going to love this chocolate,” he said.