After a huge year of growth in the US, local vanilla producer Heilala is set for even greater expansion in its biggest export market. Heilala Vanilla is now now used in some of the country’s top restaurants including Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, The Pool & The Grill and Ovenly, the company said.
After a huge year of growth in the US, local vanilla producer Heilala is set for even greater expansion in its biggest export market. Heilala Vanilla is now used in some of the country’s top restaurants including Eleven Madison Park, Gramercy Tavern, The Pool & The Grill and Ovenly, the company said.
“There is a strong baking culture in North America,” said chief executive Jennifer Boggiss.
“From Halloween at the end of October through until Christmas, there are several baking occasions where vanilla is a key ingredient.
“When developing the new range [of six new flavours], we looked at other holiday flavours such as Peppermint, which makes an appearance in baked goods and hot drinks, along with Pumpkin Spice which is used to flavour everything from pies and breads to cookies, cakes and crumbles.”
In addition, the company launched a successful campaign on Kickstarter and achieved its target of raising in excess of $80,000 in July, which will ensure the flavoured extracts can be produced in a scale to launch.
Kickstarter pledgers were to receive a number of one-off Heilala experiences that supporters will get by pledging.
“Kickstarter was our platform of choice to launch this new range of flavoured extracts along with some one-off experiences. Building and uniting a community of Heilala Vanilla lovers around the globe through this campaign is very exciting for our Tauranga based team.”
NB – this story has been updated.
