The upcoming Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, the world’s longest-running and most-prestigious fine chocolate competition, will have some Madison flavor to it this year. Vata Edari, master chocolatier and founder of CocoVaa Chocolatier on Madison’s east side, will be honored by the Academy of Chocolate Awards at the 2019 awards ceremony. CocoVaa won 11 awards – including 3 gold awards – handed out internationally for 2019.
“It’s the greatest honor to be recognized again by the Academy of Chocolate at this grand event,” says Edari in a statement. “The best part of the awards ceremony is meeting other people in the industry, many of whom are women of color like me and who are rising quickly in the fine chocolate industry. I really applaud the Academy of Chocolate for holding this competition which is truly merit-based giving us a fair chance to showcase our products to the world.”
Back in 2018, Edari was named an International Rising Star by The Academy of Chocolate Awards. This year, the competition saw a record-breaking 1,500 entries from over 46 countries.
CocoVaa Chocolatier is located at 1815 East Washington Avenue on Madison’s east side and is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays with plans to expand its hours in the fall. This is CocoVaa Chocolatier’s third year in business and its second year entering the prestigious Academy of Chocolate Awards. CocoVaa has now won 28 total awards since it first entered in 2018.
“The awards have a special meaning to my company this year because I entered during a period of intense stress just following the completion of the buildout of my first brick and mortar and a really bumpy first few months,” Edari said in a statement. “Somehow, in the midst of all of the stress, I was able to produce more award winners. I feel especially proud of my wins this year because of that.”
The Academy of Chocolate was founded in 2005 by five of Britain’s leading chocolate professionals, united in the belief that eating fine chocolate is one of life’s great pleasures. This year’s Academy of Chocolate Awards will be held July 22 at the iconic Claridge’s Hotel, one of the the most-famous 5-star luxury hotels in the world.
