OHHHHH if only I had time to write what I wanted to write, when I wanted to write! When I started this blog, I thought it would be easy to keep up. Not true. I find myself so dispersed trying to make ends meet that my energy is shot to pieces. Why is it that, when we live in a foreign country and speak a foreign language far more than our native language, we find ourselves using idioms in our native language that we would never use living in the US? Some linguist out there surely has a theory or two or three.
Today I'm updating websites, taking a break from my usual tasks; that break includes writing a new blog entry. At last.
One of the most reputable newspapers in France is Le Canard enchaîné, a tongue-in-cheek, hard-nose, well researched look at the week's news. In this past week's issue, I found a great little article entitled "Pas de krach pour le chocolat!" Here's my rendition, ultra short version:
Companies may be not selling cars or refrigerators, but sales for little moments of happiness are on the rise. It seems that even in difficult times, you can sell happiness.
Chocolate moguls are rubbing their hands together gleefully. Since the Crash-Crise, the giants of the candy world have never sold so much chocolate candy. Why? Because chocolate is an inexpensive mood booster. Some ad campaigns have used this spin to boost sales, claiming: Times are tough, give yourself have a little pleasure. The tactic is called "indulgence marketing." Apparently people swallow such TV ploys more easily when the they have less money to spend on going out to dinner or the movies. Apparently they're glued to the TV set instead, eating chocolate.
Chocolate makers in particular among candy makers are making a double killing on the market: chocolate costs less to make since 2000, thanks to the European commission. Manufacturers are allowed to replace some of the cocoa butter with vegetable fats such as shea butter, which is 7 times cheaper. They can also use palm oil, which is 10 times cheaper.
And the taste, folks? What about the taste? If the "chocolate" coats your tongue and throat so thickly with these non-chocolate substitutes, where's the pleasure?
American Kraft has been trying to take over British rival Cadbury for the sum of 12 billion euros (back in September, Cadbury hadn't yet ceded), to become king of a chocolate market that weighs in yearly at 88 billion euros and is rapidly growing. Conclusion? The future will be an obese one.
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