Ghirardelli Chocolate Company today announced a formula improvement to its award-winning line of premium dark baking chocolate. Savored by those who appreciate the highest-quality baking chocolate, Ghirardelli now boasts a more richly intense chocolate flavor than ever before. With enhancements including increased cocoa content, Ghirardelli is the first nationally available brand of baking chocolate to provide consumers with cocoa percentage information on its packaging of dark chocolate products.

Ghirardelli has increased the cocoa percentage in its award-winning Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar, now 60% cocoa, and in its popular Bittersweet Chocolate Chips, which have the highest cocoa content (60% cocoa) of any national baking chip brand. The company has also added a new Extra Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar with 70% cocoa. Ghirardelli's Unsweetened Baking Bar remains 100% cocoa.

As an added benefit to bakers, Ghirardelli will be the first nationally available baking brand to include cocoa percentage information on its dark chocolate packaging. With an increasing number of chefs and recipes specifying the cocoa percentage of chocolate ingredients, Ghirardelli's new packaging helps consumers accurately select precise levels of intensity of baking chocolate.

"There is a growing trend towards dark chocolate in the U.S. Consistent with this trend, within the baking segment, bakers are beginning to explore and appreciate the rich range of intensities in flavor that dark chocolate can deliver," says Steve Genzoli, Ghirardelli's Head Chocolatier. "Our new packaging helps these bakers best match their individual tastes and recipe requirements for the best results," adds Genzoli.

In 2004, Ghirardelli was named "Favorite Dark Chocolate" by Cook's Illustrated magazine. "Dark chocolate" typically includes chocolates that are labeled "semisweet" or "bittersweet," and that have identifiable percentages of chocolate liquor.

Ghirardelli uses only the purest, natural ingredients to maintain its distinctive, balanced taste. This, along with a finer grind than other brands, allows for easy melting into a glossy smooth texture.

Beginning in Fall 2005, Ghirardelli's new dark chocolate baking products will be available in the baking section of fine supermarket chains nationwide including, Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger. Suggested retail prices: 70% Cocoa Extra Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar (4 oz. $2.59); 60% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bar (4 oz. $2.59); 60% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate Chips (11.5 oz. $2.99); and 100% Cocoa Unsweetened Baking Bar (4 oz $2.59). Ghirardelli also offers 60% cocoa in its signature confection Ghirardelli Squares® chocolates & bars.