Óbidos hosted, last Wednesday, September 30th, the 1st National Chocolate Conference, an initiative by AHRESP – Association of Hospitality, Restoration, and Similar Establishments of Portugal, through its National Chocolate Platform. Under the theme “Innovation, Knowledge, and Future”, the event brought together professionals, producers, entrepreneurs, chefs, master chocolatiers, industry representatives, professors, students, and other stakeholders in the sector.
The president of the Óbidos Municipal Council, Filipe Daniel, highlighted the importance of transforming the territory's acquired notoriety into knowledge and economic activity. "Bringing together here those who produce, transform, teach, research, and create businesses is to continue a path that Óbidos has persistently built," he stated, recalling the creation of the Óbidos Chocolate House in 2022, the International Chocolate Academy in 2024, and the establishment of the National Chocolate Platform in 2025.
Carlos Moura, president of AHRESP, emphasized the recognition of Portuguese gastronomy as a strategic axis and the importance of national platforms for connecting professionals, companies, and territories, promoting visibility for work developed outside major urban centers.
The conference addressed topics such as "The Future of Chocolate: Trends and Sustainability", "Marketing and Branding: Connecting with the Consumer", "Disruptive Innovation", and "Chocolate Talent: Training, Career, and Professional Development". Chef Francisco Siopa led the session "From Fruit to Excellence", and the Historical Gastronomy Workshops presented "From Tradition to Affirmation", complemented by tasting moments.
Filipe Daniel indicated that the next step is to transform the created network into concrete projects, such as internships between schools and companies, gastronomic tourism experiences, and the creation of chocolate with territorial identity, exploring combinations with regional products like ginja. The goal is to generate qualified employment and new business opportunities for the municipality.
