How Grain de Sail Chocolate is Is Harnessing the Wind to Fund Sustainability

My Latest in The Chocolate Professor:

“How Grain de Sail Chocolate is Funding Sustainable Maritime Logistics”

by L.M. Archer

At Grain de Sail in Brittany, two brothers are harnessing the wind to create a sustainable cargo shipping venture and wine, coffee and artisan chocolates are helping to fund it.

TASTE, SUSTAINABILITY, ADVENTURE

Brothers Jacques and Olivier Barreau worked as offshore wind turbine entrepreneurs in Brittany. After selling their shares in the wind farm developing company, they wanted a new project that combined their three shared passions: taste, sustainable development, and adventure, so they established Grain de Sail.

“The idea was to self-finance the construction of a sailboat, with the promise of delivering a good product,” explains Pierre Maruzzi, director of sales and operations at Grain de Sail.

The sailboat presents a sustainable commercial transportation option for those seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. To raise necessary capital, the company settled on roasting coffee and crafting artisan chocolate, as well as importing wines from France.

BOAT TO BAR

First, the brothers founded a coffee roasting facility in Brittany in 2013. A chocolate making factory there followed in 2016. The pair partners with one of France’s best chocolatiers to develop recipes, and master every step of the chocolate-making process. “When the brothers founded Grand de Sail, they didn’t know how to make chocolate at all,” said Maruzzi. “So they decided to surround themselves with experts.”

The result? Grain de Sail chocolate bars pivot around taste, texture, and appearance. “One of the key attributes to Grain de Sail chocolate is that you really have this melting sensation when you eat it,” Maruzzi said. “On top of the taste, there is this idea of texture.” READ MORE.

I’m pleased to share my article on sustainable Grain de Sail Chocolate with you here.

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