Big Chocolate

Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Big Chocolate shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Big Chocolate offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Big Chocolate at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Big Chocolate? Wrong! If the Big Chocolate is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Big Chocolate then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Big Chocolate? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Big Chocolate and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Big Chocolate wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Big Chocolate then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Big Chocolate site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Big Chocolate, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Big Chocolate, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

"Big Chocolate" is a pejorative business term assigned to multi-national chocolate food producers, much akin to the terms assigned to "Big Oil" and "Big Tobacco".

According to Asamoah and Estis, "Big Chocolate" companies are Cadbury Schweppes; Mars, Incorporated; Nestlé; and The Hershey Company.

At the core of the chocolate debate across Europe, parts of Asia and the United States is the definition of chocolate itself, and whether percentages of cocoa in production should render some candies unable to carry the chocolate food definition. Currently the United States, the European Union and Russia do not allow vegetable fats as ingredients of products labeled as chocolate.

At issue also is the ability to replace cocoa butter or dairy components of chocolate with cheaper vegetable fats or Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate, thereby reducing the quantity of actual cocoa in the finished product while creating an arguably more unhealthy confection.

"Big Chocolate" also refers to the political and social effects of a unifying industry. Consolidated buying enables large cocoa users to wield significant impact in economies, many of them poor African nations, that rely on cocoa production as a critical element of foreign exchange.

In US politics, "Big Chocolate" was invoked scornfully within the debate that erupted around high rates of obesity in the early 2000s. Conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, who considers obesity to be a matter of individual choice, predicted sarcastically that the "nanny state" would instead blame "Big Chocolate."

References

The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars ISBN 0767904575