Lindt Celebrates Premium Chocolate Innovation With Launch Of Three New Products -- LINDOR Caramel, EXCELLENCE Wasabi and EXCELLENCE Strawberry

STRATHAM, N.H., Jan. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Premium chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli announces the introduction of three new product innovations – the LINDOR Caramel truffles and the EXCELLENCE Wasabi and EXCELLENCE Strawberry bars.  Building on the company's rich history of creating original and delicious premium chocolate with both unique and classic flavors, each product recipe was developed by the Master Chocolatiers at Lindt, creating chocolate beyond compare.  This season of love, Lindt is also offering premium chocolate gifts from the heart, including the new Gourmet Truffles Gift Heart and irresistibly smooth LINDOR truffles, which are perfect Valentine's Day sweets.

Carefully crafted by Lindt Master Chocolatiers, each of the new innovations provides an everyday chocolate experience that is truly beyond compare.  The team of Lindt Master Chocolatiers around the world work together to analyze flavor trends and combine the world's finest ingredients and artisan-like craftsmanship, with strict quality control tests, and innovative recipes to create the ultimate chocolate-tasting experience.  The resulting products include:

LINDOR Caramel - A milk chocolate shell infused with caramel, which enrobes an irresistibly smooth caramel milk chocolate center (SRP $3.99).

EXCELLENCE Wasabi - Silky smooth 47 percent cocoa dark chocolate with a rich brown color and intense aroma, subtly spiced with a touch of wasabi flavor (SRP $2.59).

EXCELLENCE Strawberry - A perfectly balanced taste of smooth 47 percent cocoa dark chocolate with a rich brown color and pleasant fruit aroma, enhanced with naturally sweet strawberry pieces (SRP $2.59).

"Our passion for creating the world's best premium chocolate innovations truly shines through in these three new products," said Lindt Master Chocolatier, Ann Czaja.  "Whether consumers are looking for a unique spice, a harmony of sweet strawberries, or a classic caramel flavor, the Wasabi, Strawberry and Caramel flavors are delicious every day indulgences."

Throughout its 165-year history, Lindt has pioneered the premium chocolate industry, mastering the art of gourmet chocolate making.  Rodolphe Lindt created the first melting, or fondant, chocolate in 1879, which is the chocolate consumers know and love today through the invention of the conche.  Lindt carries on this legacy today, using state-of-the-art and proprietary technology, coupled with the expertise of the Lindt Master Chocolatiers, to create the world's finest chocolate.  The Lindt Master Chocolatiers are dedicated to developing new products in response to flavor trends, and as a result, continue to introduce innovations such as LINDOR Caramel, EXCELLENCE Wasabi and EXCELLENCE Strawberry.

Celebrating Valentine's Day
In addition to the new innovations to the EXCELLENCE and LINDOR collections, Lindt is celebrating the season of love through the "Send the Love" sweepstakes.  From February 1-10, 2013, consumers can "like" Lindt at Facebook.com/LindtChocolate and create free, personalized e-cards for loved ones for a chance to win one of 10 Valentine's Day gift baskets.  Filled with LINDOR Gift Hearts and other premium chocolate Lindt indulgences, the gift baskets, valued at more than $75, are perfect to share with that special someone.  Winners can decide to keep the prize, or to gift the prize to their Valentine, the e-card recipient.

The Lindt Valentine's Day collection offers a wide assortment of premium gifts to share with everyone – including loved ones, friends and colleagues.  From the new Gourmet Truffles Gift Heart to limited-edition milk and white chocolate smooth melting LINDOR truffles, the Lindt Valentine's Day assortments are sure to make any heart melt. 

The LINDOR Collection
For more than 165 years, Lindt has been creating premium chocolate products, including the iconic LINDOR truffles.  The proprietary LINDOR recipe has remained unchanged for more than 60 years, and embodies the craftsmanship of the Lindt Master Chocolatiers.  With the addition of Caramel, LINDOR truffles are now available in 16 different irresistibly smooth melting flavors that create the ultimate chocolate delight, ranging from the classic Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, to Hazelnut, Peanut Butter and Stracciatella.

The EXCELLENCE Collection
The Lindt EXCELLENCE collection is the world's most exceptionally-crafted premium chocolate, with cocoa percentage recipes ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent cocoa, as well as innovative flavor combinations, including the new EXCELLENCE Wasabi and Strawberry bars.  Made with the finest cocoa beans and highest-quality ingredients, Lindt EXCELLENCE has a thin, refined profile to offer chocolate lovers an unmatched, sophisticated sensory experience.

The 3.5 oz. EXCELLENCE bars, LINDOR Caramel and Valentine's Day products are now available at retail locations nationwide, Lindt Chocolate Shops and www.Lindt.com.  To stay up to date on the latest Lindt news and exclusive offers, such as the "Send the Love" sweepstakes, "like" the company's Facebook page, follow Lindt on Twitter, or visit the Lindt Chocolate Unwrapped blog.

About Lindt & Sprungli
Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category, offering high-quality products in more than 125 countries.  Lindt & Sprungli operates eight production facilities in Europe and the United States and employs 7,700 worldwide.  Lindt USA operates more than 60 retail stores in the U.S., Lindt Chocolate RSVP, the company's premium direct selling program, and maintains wide distribution through extensive retail and wholesale channels.  For more information on Lindt, visit www.lindt.com.

SOURCE Lindt USA