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Chocolate Santas ‘wearing’ masks? COVID-conscious confectionery sells out

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Krisztina Fenyo, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/11/21/chocolate.jpg"/><figcaption>Chocolate Santas wearing protective face masks are seen in the workshop of the Hungarian confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Lajosmizse, Hungary, November 20, 2020. <em>Bernadett Szabo, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>LAJOSMIZSE — When confectioner Laszlo Rimoczi decided to put masks on his chocolate Santas in his small workshop in rural Hungary, he intended it as a light-hearted joke to raise people&#x27;s spirits amid a worsening coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>But it turned out to be shrewd business move as orders surged online, and now he can hardly keep pace with demand.</p><p>&quot;I think by the time Santa comes he will have to wear a mask because Santa has to show a good example to people,&quot; Rimoczi said, sitting in his workshop in the backyard of his village home in Lajosmizse, about 70 kilometers south of Budapest.</p><p>To keep up with orders, he has had to simplify the design and now produces about 100 Santas a day, using gluten-free Italian chocolate. He paints the hat red, and makes the masks from tiny white marzipan strips, adding the ribbons with icing.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/07/20/virtual-parties-ok-but-no-videoke-doh-guidelines-on-pandemic-holiday-celebrations-out">Virtual parties OK, but no videoke: DOH guidelines on pandemic holiday celebrations out</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/10/16/20/christmas-in-danger-as-santas-lapland-home-feels-pandemic-chill">Christmas in danger as Santa&#x27;s Lapland home feels pandemic chill</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/09/30/20/christmas-during-coronavirus-pandemic-tips-on-gift-giving-family-reunions">Christmas during coronavirus pandemic: Tips on gift-giving, family reunions</a></li></ul><p>Rimoczi has even had to change the design of his bigger chocolate Santas, which originally came without masks.</p><p>&quot;They were wrapped, but we had to unwrap them and give them masks as our customers now only want masked Santas,&quot; he said.</p><p>His girlfriend helps with the wrapping.</p><p>Rimoczi&#x27;s business - he also makes other chocolate treats and sells them in a small shop in his house - suffered losses as the pandemic hit in March.</p><p>While the masked Santas have been a boost, he doesn&#x27;t expect it to last if vaccines help the world defeat the pandemic.</p><p>&quot;I am sure next year I will sell only a fraction of these, as Santas will no longer have to wear a mask,&quot; he said with a smile.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6ncGaQryR4?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>"I am sure next year I will sell only a fraction of these, as Santas will no longer have to wear a mask."</p>

"I am sure next year I will sell only a fraction of these, as Santas will no longer have to wear a mask."

Chocolate Santas ‘wearing’ masks? COVID-conscious confectionery sells out

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Chocolate Santas ‘wearing’ masks? COVID-conscious confectionery sells out

Krisztina Fenyo,

Reuters

Published Nov 21, 2020 10:07 PM PHT

Read More:

marzipan masks

Chocolate santas

COVID-19

Christmas Hungary

holidays 2020

pandemic holidays 2020

Laszlo Rimoczi

ANC

Reuters

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