SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – When it comes to desserts, Americans aspire to quality.  Exposure to decadent desserts from sophisticated restaurants and chic bakeries has elevated popular tastes, especially for chocolate.

Now home bakers can match the professional quality of ingredients with the launch of a new line of Ghirardelli all-natural Gourmet Baking products, offering the most intense chocolate flavor and best baking performance.

To bring consumers fabulous new recipes that are still easy to make, a select group of America’s most acclaimed, award-winning pastry chefs have created exclusive recipes especially for the Ghirardelli Chocolate Gourmet Baking products.  Recipes can be found on the line’s packaging, as well as at www.ghirardelli.com/gourmetbaking.

"Chocolate is the number one selling dessert flavor in America,” said Fabrizio Parini, senior vice president of marketing for Ghirardelli.  “Home bakers deserve the finest quality, whether it’s for a favorite cookie recipe, or a special soufflé. Our new Ghirardelli Gourmet Baking line offers consumers the highest-quality baking chocolate while maintaining ease of use for home bakers who are looking for unparalleled results.” 

To produce this new line of Ghirardelli Gourmet Baking products, Ghirardelli has sourced the finest cacao beans from the most notable origins for cacao production.  To ensure the creamiest texture and velvety melting, the chocolate is refined to an extremely small particle size.  Finally, to develop a rich, perfectly balanced and sophisticated flavor, the chocolate is conched with state-of-the-art machines for a duration that surpasses industry standards.

The new Ghirardelli Gourmet Baking products will be available in three cacao percentages: 58-percent Cacao Semisweet Baking Chocolate, 72-percent Cacao Extra Bittersweet Baking Chocolate and 100-percent Cacao Unsweetened Baking Chocolate.  Sold in premium 10-ounce vertical bags, the baking chocolate will retail from $3.99 to $4.49, beginning August 2008.  They can be purchased at Ghirardelli shops, grocery and mass retail stores and other select retail outlets throughout the U.S., and online at www.ghirardelli.com.

About The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a manufacturer and marketer of premium chocolate products. Incorporated in 1852, Ghirardelli has an incredibly rich American history. As the country’s longest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer, Ghirardelli has established its position as America’s Premium Chocolate Company with more than 150 years of chocolate making experience. Ghirardelli’s product line includes its signature Squares™ chocolate, Intense Dark™ chocolate, LUXE MILK chocolate™, Ghirardelli Chocolate Bars, other chocolate confections, baking chocolate and beverages. These items are sold through select specialty stores, grocery stores, drug stores, mass merchandisers and department stores. In addition, Ghirardelli sells a line of premium chocolate, syrups and drinks for the Food Service channel. Ghirardelli currently owns and operates 14 retail stores in five states, including the original Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop located in San Francisco’s historic Ghirardelli Square. For more information about Ghirardelli, visit www.ghirardelli.com.

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