Ruby chocolate

Ruby chocolate craze marches on: Nestlé brings limited edition Baci Perugina to Sainsbury’s in UK

02-Nov-2018 - Last updated on 02-Nov-2018 at 15:37 GMT

Nestlé limited edition ruby Baci Perugina. Pic: Nestlé

Ruby chocolate, the fourth type of chocolate adding to milk, white and dark varieties, has caused worldwide sensation since Barry Callebaut first unveiled it in Shanghai, China, last year.

Nestlé, being one of the first manufacturers taking up the confectionery craze, subsequently launched KitKat made with Ruby first in Japan and South Korea, and later in Australia and Europe.

Now the Swiss-based company just took one step further by introducing a limited edition Ruby-made Baci Perugina, its premium Italian chocolate and praline brand, to selected Sainsbury’s stores in the UK.

Similar to other chocolates made with Ruby cocoa beans, the pink Baci Perugina offers an ‘intense berry-fruitiness taste without the addition of any flavorings and colors,’ said Nestlé, noting that it hopes to use the new item to ‘set trends’ in the confectionery market.

Gillian Nesbitt, Baci’s brand manager at Nestlé UK, said: “We’re excited to be extending the already popular Baci Perugina range here in the UK, and even more excited that we’re able to offer Baci fans a taste of the delicious and innovative Ruby chocolate.

“The new Baci Perugina… is easy on the eye, velvety to the touch.”

Vicky Martin, chocolate buyer at Sainsbury’s, added: “These Baci would make perfect gifts for family and friends, or would work well as a stocking filler.”

The products, which currently retail for £1.50 ($1.95) each, will be available until November 20.

Waiting for the FDA’s decision on labeling Ruby

While Ruby chocolate has been available in many parts of the world, the US consumer still needs to wait for the FDA’s decision on how the product should be labeled.

For now, Ruby can only be considered a compound instead of chocolate since it doesn’t fall into any of the current US chocolate categories due to the percentage of its ingredient compositions.

Barry Callebaut previously told ConfectioneryNews that the FDA had issued a temporary permit around May this year that allows Ruby to be marketed as chocolate, but the final decision is still pending, according to Jerry Hagedorn, EVP of business development.

He said: “We knew at the outset the process could take nine months or more and we are still in that time frame.”