A lucky group 40 Australian chefs, bakers, pastry chefs, chocolatiers and industry professionals are getting ready to pack their bags and head to Ghana cocoa plantation tour in October.

The trip was organised as part of a promotion spearheaded by Callebaut, in conjunction with Australian importer F. Mayer Imports P/L.

Included in the tour group are 11 winners from around the country who were drawn at the Savour Patissier of the Year competition in late May. They are:

NSW
Klemen Poppit – De Toni Patisserie
Janine Epere – Destiny Haven
Leon Marshall – Frugii

VIC
Adrian Straton – Chocolate Mill
Hayley Tibbett – Indulge Chocolates
Bernard Chu – Luxbite

QLD
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick – 31 Degrees
Natalie McEwan – Sheraton Mirage

WA
Tenina Holder – Thermomix

SA
Justin Williams
Theresa Streefland – Cocobean Chocolate

This year will be the second time the tour has been run—the first was in 2013—and attendees will be visiting cocoa plantations, Barry Callebaut’s Cocoa Horizon Programme site, Ghana Cocoa Board, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana and the Barry Callebaut Cocoa Processing Plant, as well as other tourist locations.

F.Mayer Imports sales and marketing manager—chocolate division Gary Willis said for a pastry chef or chocolatier a tour like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“These professionals like to have in-depth knowledge on ingredients they work with, and the knowledge they will gain from a tour like this is invaluable,” he said.

“This is a purpose-built custom tour that is created only for us. No one can just rock up to Ghana cocoa platation and do anything like what we have organised, and no other company in Australia has ever offered anything like this.”

Mr Willis said 80 per cent of the tour attendees from 2013 had entered the competition to attend again this year.

“That’s the best reaction to hope for, I think,” he said.