Kwaku: The Chocolate Guy
By Maya Pope-Chappell
Photo: Maya Pope-Chappell
Kwaku Opoku Sarpong-Agyeman, 24 sits at his computer looking at complicated line graphs. He’s going over data from a survey he created that tests responders love of rich and creamy premium chocolates.
Sarpong-Agyeman is an Assistant Research Executive at a brand consulting company in midtown Manhattan. His job is to make recommendations to mint and chocolate brands based on findings from online surveys, which asks responders to rate chocolates based on things like taste, packaging and perceptions of the chocolate.
His main client now is Ferrero, which makes Ferrero Rocher chocolates and Tic Tac’s. Just before the new Tic Tac Chill hit stores, he received a box full of the new cherry and mint flavors. He shared them with his friends and asked them what they thought of the taste and the packaging. He also tried a few for himself.
“Most people liked the red one because it tasted more like candy,” Sarpong-Agyeman said.
In order to make good recommendations, not only does Sarpong-Agyeman have to taste the product, he has to try out the competition.
“When looking at competitors it’s kinda like a football team. You have to scout what the other players are doing.”
Competitors of Ferrero Rocher include premium chocolate brands like Godiva Chocolatier and Lindt. Sarpong-Agyeman has visited multiple premium chocolate boutiques in New York City and New Jersey to gauge the brand and to taste the chocolates.
So what makes a good chocolate? “Survey’s have proven that it’s about the taste. It’s gotta make that tummy feel yummy.”
