Koko Loa chocolates

Its name is inspired by Tagaloa, the mythical creator of the universe and the heavens in Samoan legend.

“Koko Loa is heaven-sent with Alofa (love) from Samoa,” says Eddie Wilson, Wilex Samoa’s founder and CEO.

Wilex will display its Koko Loa range at the Auckland Food Show this week with a booth at the Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) New Zealand hosted Pacific Hub stand, which will feature nine food and beverage exporters from the Pacific Islands region.

RNZ reports in 2003 Wilex Samoa's factory at Moata'a was burnt to the ground but now it has launched its new Koko Loa chocolates.

The company is now based at Lelata, not far from its previous location.

The general manager and owner, Tagaloa Eddie Wilson, said the company had been facing a lot of challenges but Koko Loa had already been successfully introduced into New Caledonia.

Tagaloa said he had the support of the Ministry of Agriculture to expand.