It’s Sweet to Meet Again! The San Diego Convention Center Announces the Return of Chocolate Bars at Comic-Con
San Diego, Calif. (July 5, 2022)—For the first time since 2019 and fifth time overall, the San Diego Convention Center today announced a suite of limited-edition chocolate bars to be sold during this summer’s world-renowned Comic-Con International: San Diego (Comic-Con) event. 4,000 handcrafted bars, 1,000 of each flavor, will be sold during Comic-Con from July 21-24, 2022.
The Convention Center’s Executive Chef Sufi Karaien and Pastry Chef Matthew Haven teamed up to develop whimsical and delicious concepts for the convention’s return, paying homage to the larger-than-life characters that make up the event. The culinary team makes 100 candy bars every 90 minutes, like a real-life chocolate factory.
“We have a blast making these pop culture candy bars for California’s biggest pop culture event. You won’t find these flavors anywhere else. It’s these personal touches that keep people excited about coming to in-person events like this one,” Karaien said.
First Look at the 2022 Flavors
- Clandestine flavors emerge through every encounter with the Misunderstood Villain, a zesty product of dark chocolate, local orange, Tajin, and smoked paprika.
- With a rainbow blend of passion fruit, crispy mango, white chocolate, and Froot Loops, the Recess bar transports you to a vibrant land of four square, hopscotch, and kickball games.
- Who says s’mores need to be evening desserts? Made with dark chocolate, Golden Grahams, and Lucky Charms marshmallows, the Sunrise S’mores bar is a tasty treat for any time of day.
- With floral notes and a smooth texture, the Pixie’s Garden bar is a fairytale flavor featuring white chocolate, hibiscus flower, and elderflower ganache.
After the chefs develop the concepts, the Convention Center's creative team tastes the chocolate for inspiration while developing names and themes. The bars are then brought to life through design by Hailey Adams, Senior Graphic Designer and Brand Manager, and video animations created by Dylan James, Digital Communications Specialist.
“Creating a suite of designs for these sweets is a project I’ve loved year after year,” Adams said. “As the long-awaited return of Comic-Con approaches, I can’t wait to hear which one will be the fan favorite.”
The craft chocolates will be priced at $7 each. In 2019, the Convention Center’s food and beverage team created more than 4,000 chocolate bars over four days, selling out every day of the convention. The bars have become a fixture for the event, dazzling attendees since the concept first launched in 2016.
Golden tickets will be hidden inside four of the chocolate bars. Each golden ticket can be redeemed for a $100 Starbucks gift card.
Following two years of pandemic-related cancellations, Comic-Con is taking place in person for the first time in three years, since July 2019. With a robust program of speakers, exhibits, films, and games, the event attracts more than 135,000 attendees, creating a regional economic impact of more than $160 million. For information about Comic-Con, including health and safety protocols, see Comic-Con.org.
About the San Diego Convention Center
The San Diego Convention Center is the region’s premier gathering place, hosting conventions, trade shows, and community events that economically benefit the City of San Diego and advance the region's convention and tourism industry. The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is a public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego to exclusively manage, market, and operate the 2.6 million sq. ft. waterfront facility.
About Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! manages prestigious conference, cultural, and sporting venues and major events all over the world. With 40,000 employees and 500 sites, Sodexo Live! offers clients a range of bespoke catering, sales, and event management services, helping to transform the consumer experience into unforgettable memories. As strategic and responsible partners, Sodexo Live! commits to unlocking customers’ full potential while favoring local communities. Sodexo Live! contributes to the success of prestigious events such as Royal Ascot, the Tour de France, the Rugby World Cup and soon the Paris 2024 Games, and showcases exceptional venues such as the Eiffel Tower Restaurants, the Hard Rock Stadium, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Prado museum in Madrid, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Media Contact Maren Dougherty, San Diego Convention Center This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 619.782.4390
