Not sure if this is the correct forum to ask my questions, but I would like to know how I can join the Acdamey or get inviolved? Also when will the next judging/ awards take place?

Thanks

You negativity is ridiculous, unnecessary and unhelpful. While not perfect, the point of the Academy/Awards is to promote fine chocolate. If you have any interest in this, you should at least approach the Awards with an open mind before you condemn them. The judges were largely independent and made up of chefs, journalists, food writers and international chocolate figures. None of the Academy members who entered products were allowed to judge in those sections.

Yes there are things to improve, yes there can be more transparency and information. The Academy is a voluntary organisation with no paid staff. Those of us involved put in months of free work to make the Awards happen – hence the annoyance of reading uninformed tirades like the above. It’s not always easy to get out information about how things were done, but you might consider giving the benefit of the doubt before mouthing off.

Rather making statements out of ignorance, don’t you think it would have been better to ASK about the points you raise – in public or directly to the Academy – before you voice an uninformed opinion? You know you might be surprised to find out that you would get an answer, and your input and comments might be valued, if phrased in a different way.

There is plenty of this kind of stuff out on the web – but if you do it on my site, I’m going to answer you!

Oh look… frequent winners Thorntons and Paul Young are connected to the awards by money through their paid PR officer who organises them! Oh look… Rococo are frequent winners and also part of the acedemy!

It’s great how the public is shown all the shiny awards on the packaging of chocolates but never told what the award is for specifically nor are the public told how many competitors there were (2 or 50? We know which is nearer the truth!)

Neither is it made clear to the public exactly how the chocs are judged and if the judges are connected or not to the makers or receive free chocolates, hospitality or are truly independent.

Neither is it made clear to the public if there is money paid to the academy by winners to enter or to use the logo.

Neither is it made clear that chocolates are submitted by the makers so that it is possible the chocoates are not the same as we might buy in the shops.

If anyone had any sense of self respect and could notch down their ego they would at least ensure if they win they were not on the list of judges that year or the next….