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The NōKA Chocolate Experience Comes to Life in Store Designed by Shimoda Design Group

DALLAS, January 29, 2007 – NōKA Chocolate, ranked ‘#1 luxury chocolate in the world’ by the food editors of TASTE, today announced plans for a new flagship Dallas retail location. The new NōKA Chocolate boutique is currently under construction in the city’s booming Victory Park area.

Situated close to the W Hotel and the American Airlines Center, the new NōKA Chocolate location will service both business and leisure travelers and residents in the master-planned, multi-use development that has been labeled a “city within a city,” where people work, play and sleep. The boutique is just steps away from exceptional condominiums, apartments, hotels, restaurants and other one-of-a-kind retailers and in close proximity to DART Rail at Victory Station, valet parking and spa facilities.

NōKA Chocolate commissioned the Shimoda Design Group (SDG) of Los Angeles as lead architect and designer. Joey Shimoda, Principal of SDG, is no stranger to exquisite design and architecture, having worked in the offices of Thom Mayne and Frank Gehry, and with his most recent credits including the design of the Mikimoto jewelry store at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel and the Rolex Building, both in Beverly Hills, California.

“The NōKA Chocolate brand is the embodiment of quality and purity, so it was essential that the design serve as a direct reflection of these attributes,” said Joey Shimoda. “An important element of the challenge was to bring the NōKA Chocolate Experience to life and to make the store an integral part of the ceremony of gift-giving. We have created an environment that has never been seen before, not only in the realm of chocolate, but in retail design in general.”

NōKA Chocolate’s goal is to return chocolate to its pure, luxurious state by handcrafting the finest single-estate dark chocolate truffles and chocolates. NōKA’s couverture, which is formulated to the Company’s strict specifications, is made from the rarest cacao sourced from exclusive plantations around the world. The new location will feature NōKA’s Vintages Collection™, a compilation of the finest single-estate dark chocolates, and The Grand Cru Collection™, handcrafted truffles made with rare, single-estate dark chocolate and fresh organic cream. Mixed collections will also be available.

The new NōKA Chocolate retail boutique, located at 2422 Victory Park Lane in Dallas, is scheduled to open in late March, 2007.

Editor’s Note: a high resolution photo of NōKA Chocolate’s 24-piece Encore Box dressed in red ribbon for Valentine’s Day is available for download at www.keeneypr.com/files/57"FONT-SIZE: 10pt" align="center"> # # #

NōKA Chocolate is an artisan chocolatier dedicated to handcrafting truffles and chocolates made with rare, single-estate dark chocolate. The Company was founded by passionate advocates for gourmet chocolate who are devoted to encouraging an appreciation for chocolate quality and purity as well as the optimal tasting and gifting experience. For further information, visit NōKA’s online boutique at www.nokachocolate.com.

View NōKA’s recent announcement about its new Encore Boxes at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=199427 and see NōKA’s tips for Valentine’s Day at http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=202668.

About Shimoda Design Group

Shimoda Design Group was founded on Valentine’s Day, year 2000 on a multi-disciplined platform that seeks to bring quality design, innovation and technical excellence in projects of every scale. In addition to the core staff of six, the studio has the ability to assemble an optimum team of design professionals according to each clients needs. They include planners, landscape architects, graphic designers, lighting consultants and marketing professionals. Currently the firm has ongoing projects in Dallas, New York, and Los Angeles. For more information please visit www.shimodadesign.com.

About Victory Park

For further details on the Victory Park development please visit www.victorypark.com.