Soon to be chocolate

Dunedin craft chocolate company Ocho this week took delivery of one of its largest orders - four tonnes of cocoa beans from Papua New Guinea.

Newly installed general manager Dale Clements (left) and senior chocolate maker Dan Trainor are pictured with some of the sacks of beans.

Mr Clements said the recent shipment, which had included some ''exciting'' new fermentaries, was destined for retail shelves around the country in time for Christmas.

The company said the ''bean to bar'' process would take several weeks. Each chocolate bar requires about 100 beans.

About 10 staff would be involved in the overall process at the chocolate maker's Dunedin factory.