Tonari no Kaikadō releases the 'Flower Valentine's Chocolate' boxes to celebrate the upcoming holiday. Artist Takashi Murakami is the one behind these chocolates. In his Instagram post about the chocolates, he said, "to appeal to all of these senses, and to be utterly committed creators of taste, we at Tonari no Kaikadō aim to create art that can be experienced both cognitively and viscerally."
Consumers will notice that each bonbons design is the iconic flower that the artist is known for. There are ten kinds of handmade chocolate bonbons made with various flavors and ingredients like whiskey, brandy cherries, strawberries, and apricots, to name a few. The Flower Valentine's Chocolate boxes are exclusive to Japan and cannot be shipped overseas. Two boxes will be available for consumers to purchase — an M box with nine pieces and an L box with 20 pieces.
Artist Valentine’s Day Chocolates
Tonari No Kaikadō Releases Its ‘Flower Valentine's Chocolate’
Trend Themes
1. Artisanal Valentine's Chocolates - The trend towards artistically designed and crafted Valentine's chocolates provides an opportunity for artisanal chocolatiers to differentiate with their unique approaches.
2. Celebrity Collaborations in Food - The collaboration of artist Takashi Murakami with Tonari no Kaikadō to create Valentine's chocolates highlights an increasing trend of celebrities collaborating with food brands to produce bespoke offerings.
3. Regional Food Offerings - The limited availability of Tonari no Kaikadō's Flower Valentine's Chocolate boxes exclusive to Japan showcases a growing trend of local, regional, or national-oriented food products driving customer appeal.
Industry Implications
1. Confectionery Industry - The growing trend of artistically designed and crafted Valentine's chocolates provides a disruptive innovation opportunity for chocolatiers to explore new flavor pairings, production techniques, and packaging designs.
2. Art Industry - The collaboration between artist Takashi Murakami and Tonari no Kaikadō to create Valentine's chocolates highlights an opportunity for artists to explore collaboration opportunities in food production or packaging design.
3. Regional Food Industry - Limited availability of Region-specific, seasonal delicacies such as Tonari no Kaikadō's Flower Valentine's Chocolate boxes provides an opportunity for regional food brands to leverage exclusivity as a selling point.