Chocolate Fountains

By: jarm69 Click author's name for more of his/her articles

For most people price is still one of the major factors in deciding what company to hire. This however can lead to disappointing results. When looking at the huge variation in price for a chocolate fountain you should aim for one of the middle of the road prices.
There is very little you can add to a competent suppliers services to justify excessive prices, and a good chocolate fountain company can provide an excellent product without breaking the bank. Equally however, don't fall for someone offering an unusually low price, good quality chocolate is expensive, and top class catering equipment requires a certain level of ongoing investment to maintain standards, so a company offering to do the job for half the price of everyone else is having to cut corners somewhere.

The single most important factor is the quality of the chocolate. There are three major brands currently being used, Giles and Posner, Cellebaut and Belcolade. All of these are "Couverture" chocolates, made especially for use in chocolate fountains and for dipping foodstuffs into. Cheaper chocolate requires the addition of vegetable oil to thin it down enough to flow through the fountain. Despite what low end companies will tell you, this oil does affect the taste, you should insist in writing that your chosen supplier uses a quality fountain chocolate.

Do not be afraid to ask companies for the contact details of some of their existing clients, a reputable supplier should have satisfied customers on file who will be willing to vouch for their services. If they cannot or will not supply you at least a couple of names and email addresses then walk away, there are enough quality companies out there to do your job, so you don't want second best.

Some of the larger companies will be able to provide additional services such as fruit palm trees, ice cream and wedding room decoration. Ask them for a package price if you are interested in multiple items, transport is one of the biggest overheads for a company, so many companies are happy to offer you a deal. Something like a photo cd of your guests enjoying themselves at the fountain should be available for free.

The addition to a fountain of decoration or an illuminated surround can transform the visual impact. Ask to see some images of your suppliers fountains in operation, this will give you an idea of the standards they operate to.

Finally make sure your intended supplier is able to provide you with insurance details, risk assessments, health and hygiene certificates and up to date PAT electrical safety certificates. Many venues won't allow equipment to be operated on their premises without this safety documentation, and much of it cannot be arranged at the last minute, so a chocolate fountain operator turning up without them may result in you losing you dessert!

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: The Author Jason Moody has run a corporate entertainments and catering company for a number of years. Recently he acquired www.chocolateexperience.co.uk a company specialising in chocolate fountains, fruit palm trees and wedding chair cover hire throughout the UK.