Ghirardelli Launches New Filled Premium Chocolate Bar Line

    SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- American consumers are "trading
 up" to enjoy little luxuries in their everyday lives, especially gourmet
 foods. To satisfy this rising demand for everyday indulgences, the
 Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is launching the first line of
 nationally-distributed filled premium chocolate bars, featuring the most
 popular flavors. The line delivers the perfect harmony of intense
 Ghirardelli chocolate and generous, luscious fillings with caramel, mint
 and raspberry, along with two premium milk and dark chocolate bars. By
 "gourmetizing" these favorite flavors in an affordable and convenient way,
 Ghirardelli offers chocolate lovers the perfect motivation to trade up to
 gourmet chocolate.
 
     Almost two-thirds of Americans chose filled chocolate as one of their
 top premium chocolate picks, according to a recent Mintel study(1).
 Ghirardelli's new chocolate bars fulfill consumers' desires for a filled
 bar while putting a gourmet twist on popular flavors -- Milk Chocolate with
 Caramel, Dark Chocolate with Mint, Dark Chocolate with Raspberry and 60%
 Cacao Dark Chocolate with Caramel. This bar line is further complemented
 with two solid bars -- 60% Cacao Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate. These
 technologically advanced bars cleanly separate into smaller segments for
 easier eating. The velvety smooth filling is kept inside a decadent
 chocolate shell, and not on your fingers, making it effortlessly possible
 to experience the unparalleled taste experience that these bars deliver.
 
     The new Ghirardelli bars are currently available in stores with a
 suggested retail price of $2.29.
 
     "The new Ghirardelli chocolate bars deliver high quality versions of
 the most loved flavors combined with our award-winning chocolate." said
 Fabrizio Parini, senior vice president of marketing for Ghirardelli.
 "Chocolate lovers can now experience the pleasure of indulging in superior
 quality chocolate with the comfort of familiar flavors at an affordable
 price."
 
 

     About the new chocolate bars:
 
     -- Milk Chocolate with Caramel -- Buttery caramel soft filling surrounded
        by rich milk chocolate
     -- Dark Chocolate with Mint -- Tantalizingly refreshing mint filling
        surrounded by intense dark chocolate
     -- Dark Chocolate with Raspberry -- Delectably luscious raspberry filling
        made with real fruit surrounded by intense dark chocolate
     -- Dark Chocolate with Caramel (60% Cacao) -- Buttery caramel soft filling
        surrounded by intense dark chocolate
     -- Solid Milk Chocolate -- Rich, slow-melting milk chocolate indulgence
     -- Solid Dark Chocolate (60% Cacao) -- Pure, intense 60% cacao dark
        chocolate decadence
 
     About The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
 
     The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a manufacturer and marketer of
 premium chocolate products. Incorporated in 1852, Ghirardelli has an
 incredibly rich American history. As the country's longest continuously
 operating chocolate manufacturer, Ghirardelli has established its position
 as America's Premium Chocolate Company with more than 150 years of
 chocolate making experience. Ghirardelli's product line includes its
 signature Squares(TM) chocolate, Intense Dark(TM) chocolate, Ghirardelli
 Chocolate Bars, other chocolate confections, baking chocolate and
 beverages. These items are sold through select specialty stores, grocery
 stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers and department stores. In addition,
 Ghirardelli sells a line of premium chocolate, syrups and drinks for the
 Food Service channel. Ghirardelli currently owns and operates 11 retail
 stores in four states, including the original Soda Fountain & Chocolate
 Shop located in San Francisco's historic Ghirardelli Square. For more
 information about Ghirardelli, visit http://www.ghirardelli.com.
 
     (1) Mintel Premium Chocolate Confectionery - US - March 2007, Figure 3,
 
     Page 19
 
 
 

SOURCE The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company