Food For Marketing: Belgian Agency Wants to Use 3D Printed Chocolate to Draw in Customers

When it comes to advertising, getting consumers’ attention is key. And what’s more attention-grabbing than chocolate? So says Belgian company GoAhead Digital Agency, a marketing agency that aims to help their clients attract customers in the most delicious way possible. GoAhead wants to become “the first SmartFood 3D printing company in Europe,” and they’re starting with 3D printed chocolate.

“Smart Foods are those that have been developed through the invention of new or improved processes, for example, as a result of man-made materials/ingredients or human intervention; in other words, not naturally occurring changes,” the company explains.

3D printed food has been mostly a novelty so far, though most in the industry seem to agree that it has a promising future. GoAhead hopes to branch out and experiment with numerous 3D printed food applications, including the use of alternative ingredients to create healthier foods. First, though, they’re trying to appeal to the public with a pretty universal ingredient: chocolate. A Kickstarter campaign aims to raise €15,000 to jump-start production on a new line of 3D printed chocolate in customized shapes for advertising or special occasions.

If anyone is going to find success in the 3D printed chocolate business, it’s likely to be a Belgian company. The country does not mess around when it comes to chocolate. The “Food for Marketing” campaign will offer clients the option to order as much chocolate as they want in any shape they want, from text to objects such as chocolate reproductions of their products. While the focus is on companies, the service will also be available to individuals who want to mark a birthday, wedding or other occasion with personalized chocolate. The goal of the Kickstarter campaign is to raise half of the startup funds needed by January 22.

Rewards include, of course, chocolate. Backers who contribute €50 ($55) or more will receive one 3D printed item of their choosing, to be selected from a catalog that GoAhead will provide. Those who donate more will receive more, as many as 23 items for those who give €1,000 ($1,092) or more. The money raised by the Kickstarter will go towards the purchase of printers, packaging and raw materials for the project.

GoAhead Digital Agency was founded earlier this year by a couple of entrepreneurs who had been working in the fields of marketing, fashion, design and multimedia. The agency was started as a digital marketing firm, and 3D printing soon followed, in keeping with the company’s determination to take advantage of the latest technology. For such a new company, their client list includes several impressive names such as AkzoNobel and the European Space Agency. According to GoAhead, they’ve already been approached by several clients interested in their Food For Marketing 3D printed chocolate.

Currently, GoAhead is only shipping to certain unspecified countries, likely within Europe only. If you like the idea of marking a special occasion or selling a product with customized, 3D printed chocolate, however, a contribution to the campaign can’t hurt – the more successful the company is, the more likely they are to expand their reach. Hopefully, they may also accelerate the trend of using 3D printing to do novel things with food.  Discuss this story in the 3D Printed Chocolate forum thread on 3DPB.com.

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