Iran brings sweet treat to 100 countries
Iran has its own treat recipe for chocolate lovers, and clients in more than 100 countries have a sweet tooth for Iranian candies.
As the supplies are tucked in with great relish, the industry keeps a low profile but secretary of the Chocolate, Sweets and Biscuits Association Jamshid Maghazei says Iran’s chocolate sales outstrip twice its car exports in value.
They account for more than half of Iran’s food industry exports which are estimated at $1.2 billion a year, although new statistics are not available.
Major customers are in the Persian Gulf littoral states, Australia, Europe and Japan but it was the US which took in the biggest supply of Iranian chocolates and sweets before Washington imposed new sanctions on Tehran.
The sanctions however have not sapped the business and the market count has risen now to 100 from 60 countries when the US intensified sanctions on Iran in 2012.
“Fortunately, the taste and flavor of Iranian food and sweet products is favored and supported by our customers and we have become known for halal food everywhere in the world,” secretary of Food Industries Association of Iran Kaveh Zargaran said.
He made the remarks on the sidelines of an international exhibition for agriculture and food industries in Tehran, titled Iran AgroFood 2015 which opened on Wednesday.
The industry directly employs more than 100,000 people, with many others benefiting in related businesses such as packaging and agriculture.
The northwestern city of Tabriz, a byword for business knack of its traders, is known as Iran's capital of chocolates with its inventory of artisan bakers.
Shirin Asal, Aydin, Shoniz, Anata, Baraka and Chichak are some of the household names in Iran and the country’s best gourmet chocolate brands. They have a legion addicted to their variety of confectionery sweets and candies which come in non-ending colorful wrappings and diverse tastes.
Zargaran said Iran’s food industry complies with international standards in terms of technology and quality.
“Currently, our chocolates and sweets are exported to 100 countries,” he said.
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