August Newsletter – Enter the 2024 AoC Awards
It’s Time Enter the AoC Awards!
Many of you will be aware that the AoC Awards 2024 are open for entries and live on our website. Yes, the long wait is officially over!
Registration opened on August 19 and for bars will close September 17 2024.
Deadline for sample submissions to be received by Westminster Kingsway College is based on categories:
Bars will be due by September 20.
Filled/enrobed chocolates, spreads, chocolate drinks and Brand Experience will be due by October 25.
Judging will take place in October and November, with mostly remote judging for bars. In person judging for bonbons, filled chocolates and other categories will be held at Westminster Kingsway College, as will the final rounds.
Grand Jury decisions will be taken in early December.
And all results will be announced on the website on December 16th.
Feedback will be sent out in January 2025, date TBC.
The new student category is live!
Happy to announce that our two new Student Award categories – for flavoured chocolate bars and for filled chocolates – are now live and accepting entries from students of an accredited school (such as Westminster Kingsway College), or similar institution. This is an exciting new development we have been working on for some time and we are keen to encourage students to enter. The rules are the same as for flavoured bars or filled chocolates in general, but they do not have to be for commercial sale and the packaging does not have to be point of sale ready.
Get students to enter: they will get great feedback and possibly a great award!
Entering your bars
For information on entering your bars, please check on the website at “How to Enter in 2024” and “Award Categories” but in brief:
Bars can be delivered from now until September 20 to Westminster Kingsway but please register your entries by Sept 17 so we know to expect them. We have some delivery information help HERE.
Please send 400g minimum or 4 bars minimum for each entry. This is needed for panel judging and the grand jury. Please avoid sending too much extra as storage is limited. THANK YOU!
Entering your Filled / Panned / Enrobed Chocolates
For information on entering your bars, please check on the website at “How to Enter in 2024” and “Award Categories” but in brief:
Chocolates can be delivered from now until October 25 to Westminster Kingsway but please register your entries by October 18 so we know to expect them. Also please consider that grand jury judging is November 2 so to ensure freshness we do allow in-person deliveries on October 26 with prior permission. We have delivery information HERE but to arrange in-person delivery you must be given a time slot from [email protected]
Please send 24 chocolates of each type for judging so we have enough for the panel and grand jury. THANK YOU!
Entering Chocolate Drinks, Spreads, and/or Brand Experience
For information on entering your bars, please check on the website at “How to Enter in 2024” and “Award Categories” but in brief:
Products for judging should be registered by October 18 so we are prepared to receive them and delivered no later than October 25 to Westminster Kingsway. Judging for these products generally happens in November. For Brand Experience, the judging is done on December 7.
Brand Experience is a design-led award, so we are not judging the contents of the packaging as much as the packaging itself, unless the product forms an integral part of the brand experience.
Please send only two samples of each as per the information on the website.
Next Webinar
Top of their Craft: Award-Winning Chocolatiers Discuss Their Journey
Date : Tuesday 8th Oct 2024
Time : 19:00-20:00 (BST)
Price : £15 per person (Non-refundable)
Zoom link will be shared via registered email 1 day prior to event.
Registration deadline: Sunday 6th Oct 2024, 23:59 (BST)
In this hour-long session, we’ll explore the inspirations behind the unique flavour creations of three AoC Award Winners: Alistair Birt MCA from Harrods (UK), Rita Zamoshchina from La Carambole Patisserie (Netherlands), and Pavel Pavlov from La Fève (Bulgaria). Moderated by Cherrie Lo AoC board member and grand jury judge, we’ll discover how cultural influences shape their work, how they balance tradition with innovation, and how they adapt to market trends and engage with customers. The panel will also discuss the challenges they face, the impact of awards, and their approach to seasonal chocolates.