The newly-opened Talbot & Bons outlet at Skyparks at Malta International Airport is featuring Giraudi, a speciality chocolatier in Piedmont, Italy.

A compact team of highly-skilled craftsmen operate from new premises at Castellazzo Bormida, halfway between Turin and Milan.

The family have been in business for more than a century, operating a flour mill and a bakery but it was only in the 1960s that it started producing the chocolate for which it has now become famous.

The current owner, Giacomo Boidi, learned his trade from his two uncles, Giovanni Battista Giraudi, a chocolate manufacturer, and Paolino Boidi, a confectioner. Together, they instilled a passion in the job that is almost an art.

Among the well-known delicacies and typical Piedmontese recipes for which he is renowned are chocolate salami, Amaretti Marengo, hazelnut cake, Lady’s Kisses, Polenta di Alessandria and Giacometta, a hazelnut cream dedicated to Gianduja’s wife, “loving mother of Gianduiotti chocolates”.

This cream owes its exceptional quality to very high percentage of Piedmont hazelnuts used in its production (32 per cent) and to the careful balance between the various ingredients.

“Having visited the laboratorio of Giraudi, met the family and seen the high standards they have set themselves, apart from tasting their products, it is indeed an honour for the distinguished family from Piedmont to be giving their agency to Talbot & Bons,” said Alan Mercieca Bons, director of Talbot & Bons.

This is the first of a series of prestigious brand names that will be found at Talbot & Bons.

Amy Talbot, director of Talbot & Bons, added: “This exciting project has now come to fruition and we look forward to reaching a whole new clientele at MIA’s Skyparks business centre before too long.”