TIf you are looking for free chocolate sampling, Vanua Chocolate and Café is the place to be.

Located at 31 Beddoes Circle, Waqadra in Nadi, Vanua Chocolate and Café offers its unique experi­ence to its customers from free chocolate sampling to coffee drinks and pastry infused with Fijian choc­olate, offering an authentic taste.

The business owned and directed by One Agency Bayshore Real Es­tate Managing Broker, Arif Khan commenced in 2018.

The business’s core product is making craft chocolate from local cocoa beans.

Mr Khan said the business also served lunch from 12pm to 2pm which included wraps, burgers, salads and a wide range of scrump­tious and healthy meals customers could dive into.

Vanua Chocolate and Café employ eight individuals.

“We also impact the cocoa farming community through the purchase of cocoa beans,” said Mr Khan.

Shifting from real estate to owning a business was at the top of his list when he moved to Fiji from Califor­nia in the United States of America in 2016.

“I have been in the real estate busi­ness since 1999, majority of the years in California and since 2016 in Fiji,” he said.

“We serve the Lautoka, Nadi and the Suva market areas.

“I relocated to Fiji to embark on co­coa farming and export. We process award winning cocoa beans and chocolate.

“I saw an opportunity in training local real estate salespersons and sharing my two decades of real es­tate experience.”

Mr Khan said although challenges were faced along the way, alongside with his employees they managed to keep the business steady.

“There have been challenges but we have been consistent in deliver­ing our products that are now mar­keted at Extra Supermarket and major hotels,” he added.

The business attracts locals, tour­ists and expats who prefer locally made dark chocolate.

“We do not add preservatives and are vegan,” he said.

Vanua Chocolate and Café is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm and on Saturday from 7.30am to 3pm.

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj