A sweet proposition is sweeping across Nassau. The historic Graycliff hotel unveiled its much-anticipated chocolate factory to a select few last weekend in anticipation of the full opening next month. The factory's retail shop - offering clothing, gourmet truffles and unusual chocolate concoctions - is now open to the pubic. That's music to the ears for cruse ship companies and the millions of tourists disembarking in Nassau. While the nation's capital remains a convenient staple on many itineraries, the destination is often criticized for its lack of variety and entertainment. Graycliff Chocolate Factory, representing nearly $2 million in investment, promises a modern, interactive and unusual experience for tourists. Disney Cruise Line has agreed to place the factory on its activities list next month.
"Disney had initially committed to 100 people per day, but their tours are up to 200," said Paolo Garzaroli, president of the Graycliff Chocolate Factory. "We want to wait and get them in first, and after two months start with the other cruise lines. I want to do baby steps and go from there." After passing through the retail shop, the tour begins in a reception area where visitors are given sterilized garments, such as a cloak, hat and booties. Families watch a video on the making of chocolate and its history before beginning the tour.
Passing through a hallway, children walk straight into a colorful play area. Boys and girls engage in chocolate painting, chocolate puzzles and other activities, while being entertained by the factory's mascot, known as Captain Chocolate. Meanwhile, the adults turn left, entering the factory itself. Each person is given an entire half-pound of chocolate to produce bars, bon bons or truffles, coming face-to-face with industrial-sized equipment capable of producing thousands of candies per day. At the helm is Erika Davis, a well-known executive pastry chef from Chicago, who cut her teeth in luxury, 5-star hotels in Florida.
She recently appeared on the popular food network show Top Chef Just Desserts. Davis is in Nassau to serve as Graycliff's exclusive chocolatier. "All of our cocoa beans are fair trade," she explained. "Our first batch is from Jamaica. We'll have six different origins from around the world, each with its own awesome flavor." The interactive chocolate factory, otherwise known as "Willy-Wonka Land", employs 17 people. Garzaroli expects that number to possibly triple as tours and overall production ramps up. What it all adds up to is far more than just a tourism hot spot. Graycliff Chocolate is rapidly become a brand name, and resorts and restaurants all want a piece.
"There is demand from everyone, including the mega resorts, the One&Only Ocean Club and Lyford Cay," he told Guardian Business. "One smaller property, for example, is requesting 60,000 twice-piece boxes per year. There are a few other properties that want larger quantifies of individually wrapped chocolates. Some want prepackaged candies for mini bars. And we haven't even gotten into the bulk chocolate for pastry departments." Indeed, Graycliff Chocolate Factory is seen as an example of what local manufacturing is capable of. In a country flooded with foreign-made goods, the facility shines as distinctly Bahamian.
Garzaroli has credited Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder, who has responsibility for trade and manufacturing, for providing strong support and slashing many of the duties previously attached to equipment. "Everything I want to do is about promoting Bahamian products and entrepreneurial spirit. It really is about being part of The Bahamas," Garzaroli said. For Graycliff, the chocolate factory is just the tip of the iceberg. It's the first step towards the $25 million Heritage Village on West Hill Street, completely shut down to traffic, and featuring local, interactive experiences for tourists. As exclusively reported by Guardian Business in July, Graycliff has announced a "firm agreement" to bring an Androsia clothing factory to West Hill Street in collaboration with the original site on Andros. Guardian Business understands that another developer is planning an interactive rum distillery nearby. This general trend, marrying both tourism and light manufacturing, could be just the start of big things to come for the country's top industry.
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