Chocolate-makers Mathez, which makes cocoa truffles near Angers, generate 85% of revenue from exports. In order to compensate for the cancellation of food trade shows around the world, the firm has just launched a virtual showroom.
Founded in 1934, Chocolat Mathez is specialized in 100% French-made cocoa truffles. With 150 employees, the firm produces 2,300 tons of truffles annually on their 5,000 m2 (54,000 square-foot) production site near Angers (Pays de la Loire region) and will generate €14 million in revenue this year.
In just a few years, Chocolat Mathez, which is available in over 40 different countries, has become a world leader, and 85% of the firm’s revenue is from exports.
“Our main markets are Asia, especially Japan and China, and we also work a lot with the Middle East, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia. And we mustn’t forget Europe,”
“Our main markets are Asia, especially Japan and China, and we also work a lot with the Middle East, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia. And we mustn’t forget Europe,” explains Stéphanie Gautier, head of sales for France for the company that was bought out by the Belgian chocolate-makers Bruyerre two moths ago. What is their next goal? “Grow our America market thanks to our new snack brand Truffee’s & Co, because “Made in France” is a real calling card on the American market”, she points out.
– A Uniquely Immersive Experience
But it isn’t easy to conquer new customers in this period of global health crisis. “We usually participate in about a dozen trade shows all over the word every year; that’s how we have increased sales,” Stéphanie Gautier emphasizes. But for the past year and a half, all the shows have been cancelled. To make up for those lost opportunities, the chocolate-makers teams came up with the idea of creating their own trade show… virtually! “Along with the Creative Corner Agency, we spent six months working on this project, which enables visitors to immerse themselves completely in our world. This initiative is absolutely unique in our line of business,” she adds. To taste the truffles, all you have to do is to request a sample.
The showroom, with its “très French” décor, is open access, but visitors can make an appointment if they wish to speak to a sales representative. “The idea is to offer quick reactivity to our customers. In fact, this innovative platform will be maintained even after the health situation gets back to normal,” Stéphanie Gautier specifies, adding that the firm’s intention is for the platform to evolve into a full-fledged sales tool.
If you want to know more about the gourmet sector