Local chocolate company Wilex Samoa has announced the arrival of a new product to add to their variety of Koko Loa confectionary already on the market.

The new product is called the "Peanut Chokky Slabs" with the Wilex Samoa General Manager, Nathan Wilson excited about the launching of their new product range. 

He said the COVID-19 pandemic was a major factor behind the three-year delay in his company's launching of the new product. 

“The new product comes in a new packaging wrap and is produced using the Koko Loa Samoa cocoa with new ingredients enhancing its flavour and shelf life and targeting local and export markets,” said Mr. Wilson. “Already export orders are in the pipeline for American Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand as well as the Samoan duty-free and tourist markets.

“The new Peanut Chokky product range slabs and bars have been in the pipeline for three years following the Covid-19 pandemic which saw the need to address labour issues and the need to increase production through mechanization."

The current Koko Loa line consists of Samoan-origin (72 per cent) fruit and nut and milk of the coconut which is infused with locally grown fruits and nuts like mango, papaya, coconut and lama nut. The line also features cocoa powder such as premium and Pacific brand cocoa.  

Mr. Wilson said Wilex Samoa will focus on promoting the rich flavours of Samoa cocoa beans, which are the main ingredient for the milk chocolate that is used to cover freshly day-roasted peanuts which bring out the unique Samoa cocoa flavour. 

He said the roasted nuts will mirror and be better than the popular Mars and Snickers chocolate bars.

Wilex Samoa is a Samoan family-owned business with some of its other products including noni juice, coconut soap and ava. One of the key objectives behind the company's establishment is to help local farmers by providing them with a sustainable income.