Free Samples Are Returning to Some Grocery Stores With New Rules | Eater

"Founded by three brothers raised in Trinidad and Tobago with family roots in cacao farming, this Bronx chocolate factory and one of the city’s few Black-owned chocolate businesses emphasizes ethically compensating farmers, environmental preservation and organic farming. The company relied heavily on in-store sampling at specialty markets to tell that origin story and justify a $6 price point; without live demos shoppers often don’t discover the brand. The pandemic removed those sampling opportunities during key selling seasons, prompting a pivot toward digital outreach such as Instagram tastings as a way to preserve storytelling and maintain customer engagement." - Nick Mancall-Bitel