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Chocolaterie Robert is a household brand name in Madagascar where its chocolate bars can be found everywhere from small village shops and department stores to upmarket confectionery stores and gift shops in cosmopolitan areas. In rural areas, usually one or more of the four chocolate bar varieties can be found.
[[Image:Chocolaterie_Robert_009Chocolaterie_Robert_031.jpg|600px|noneleft|thumb|The Chocolaterie Robert brands includeChocolate bars launched in 2010:Blanc Superérieur (34Dark chocolate with 61% cocoa butter), Noir Spécial Kaffir lime and Fleur de Sel (73% cocoahand harvested sea salt, top layer only), Supérieur au Lait (34dark chocolate with 68% cocoa) and Noir Supérieur cocoa nibs (47% splinters of cocoa)]]
The Malagasy cocoa, also known as “green gold” of [[Sambirano]], has in recent years gained a high quality reputation amongst chocolate experts worldwide. However, Malagasy cocoa production remains relatively small-scale in comparison to other major cocoa exporting nations.
[[Image:Chocolaterie_Robert_031Chocolaterie_Robert_009.jpg|600px|leftnone|thumb|Chocolate bars launched in 2010:The Chocolaterie Robert's classic brands includeDark chocolate with 61Blanc Superérieur (34% cocoabutter), Kaffir lime and Fleur de Sel Noir Spécial (hand harvested sea salt, top layer only73% cocoa), dark chocolate with 68Supérieur au Lait (34% cocoa ) and cocoa nibs Noir Supérieur (splinters of 47% cocoa)]]
Chocolaterie Robert is a major contributor to the local economy, providing employment for about 120 independent farmers and up to 200 factory workers. The company operates both as a cocoa bean processor and chocolate manufacturer, using 500 tons of the total 4,000 to 5,000 tons annual cocoa production in Madagascar.
To ensure premium quality cocoa, the Ramanandraibe Group has set up 23 support centres throughout the [[Sambirano|Sambirano Valley]] providing technical assistance to farmers. Fermentation tubs and drying areas for cocoa beans are subsidised by the group. Madagascar cocoa farming is typically in the hands of small family businesses run by farmers who live by their land and tradition to pass their skills onto future generations.
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