Chocolate attraction

A new visitor attraction opens in York today which will particularly appeal to chocoholics everwhere. CHOCOLATE – York’s Sweet Story, will take visitors on a journey that begins in the rainforests of Central America to discover how confectionery found a home in York.

Chocolate and confectionery is enjoyed by most people around the world, possibly because research shows that chocolate is better than kissing! For York, where many of the world’s favourite brands including Kit Kat and Terry’s Chocolate Orange started their lives, they have had a special place in the hearts of its people for many years.

Memories from the people of York and generations of secrets from the families that founded the confectionery companies Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s, will be shared for the first time using innovative interpretative techniques and precious objects from the past to bring each story to life.

Visitors will learn how the confectionery industry became one of the biggest employers in York – at its peak Rowntree’s was a town within a town, employing 14,000 people - and encounter some of the people who made that happen.

The new attraction will feature priceless objects such as the long lost cocoa tin that survived Captain Scott’s fateful expedition to Antarctic aand the famous Mr York who was the George Clooney of his day. There will be lots of opportunities to find out interesting facts about York’s famous brands.

And, of course, no story of York and confectionery would be complete without a celebration of the life of KitKat. The billion dollar brand that started its life as Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp and is now the most global confectionery brand with 17.8 billion fingers sold every year appearing in many different forms - in Japan alone there are 45 varieties.

CHOCOLATE– York’s Sweet Story opens in King’s Square, York on 31 March 2012. For more information please see here

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