Elsdon Coffee Cart has won ChoctoberFest’s Top of the Chocs drinks award, as Porirua cafés and hospitality businesses recorded more than $265,000 in sales from this year’s festival.
Customers bought 13,010 drinks and 10,612 bakes during the month-long celebration, with 5,542 ratings helping decide the winning entries.
Porirua City Council’s total covers the festival drinks and bakes alone. It does not include other food or drinks customers bought during their visits.
The Coffee Cart Elsdon won with its Parisian Drinking Chocolate. Owner Georga Godfrey said the team was thrilled to take out the drinks category, particularly with Whittaker’s close enough for staff to smell chocolate roasting each day.
“We love being a part of this special community and getting to meet new friendly faces, we always have so much fun taking part in this campaign,” she said.
Now in its fifth year, ChoctoberFest is supported by Whittaker’s and brings together chocolate-themed baking and drinks from businesses across Porirua.
The drinks result follows the Whittaker’s Bake Off announcement on 20 October, when Gear Homestead Venue and Bar and Sushil’s Musclechef shared first place.
Customer ratings came from Porirua and the wider Wellington region, as well as visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand, Australia and Europe.
“Thanks again to Whittaker’s and Porirua City Council, we can’t wait to participate again next year!” Godfrey said.