Client Danone Global Nutrition & Food Leader
Location:Évian-les-Bains, French Alps hosted at Hôtel La Verniaz
The Challenge: Danone’s international team retreat in Évian-les-Bains brought together delegates from six different countries.
The brief: design an experience that would be as memorable as the Alpine setting, with cross-cultural team building, creativity, and inspiration at its heart.
The Venue
The event was staged at Hôtel La Verniaz, a historic Alpine retreat set above Lake Geneva. Once a 17th-century Savoyard farmhouse, today La Verniaz is a characterful hotel surrounded by wooded gardens, chalets, and sweeping views of the lake and mountains. Its blend of tranquil seclusion and understated elegance made it the perfect backdrop for an immersive chocolate experience.
Guests enjoyed the charm of the property rustic beams, leafy terraces, and a tradition of hosting notable figures from Elizabeth Taylor to Charlie Chaplin. 
With its heated outdoor pool, gardens, and Bistrot de La Verniaz serving locally inspired dishes, the hotel provided both comfort and a strong sense of place, reinforcing the retreat’s themes of renewal and creativity.
The Solution
Danone partnered with Coeur de Xocolat and award-winning chocolatier David Greenwood-Haigh to deliver a high-altitude chocolate workshop that matched the hotel’s atmosphere of history, charm, and inspiration.
Immersive Storytelling & Tasting
Guests began with a guided cocoa tasting, exploring chocolate’s flavours and its global history an activity that encouraged both curiosity and shared reflection.
The Chocolate Challenge
Delegates were split into teams and tasked with running their own “mini chocolate company”:
Crafting handmade chocolates
Designing branding and packaging
Developing a launch strategy
This business simulation mirrored real corporate challenges, from leadership and communication to time management and creative thinking.
Showcase & ReflectionLa Verniaz hotel Évian-les-Bains, French Alps
The Results
Stronger Team Bonds Shared laughter, hands-on creativity, and storytelling built connections across cultural boundaries.
Boosted Motivation The Chocolate Challenge gave delegates a tangible sense of achievement.
Fresh Perspectives The mix of hotel setting and unusual activity sparked innovative thinking.
Positive Energy Participants left re-energised, carrying stronger cross-border relationships back into the workplace.
“They come away with delicious chocolates, and a team that’s re-energised and ready to work.”
David Greenwood-Haigh, Coeur de Xocolat
Why Chocolate for Team Building?
Enhanced Productivity Creative play improves communication.
Motivation Boost Overcoming challenges inspires pride.
Stronger Bonds Shared sensory experiences create trust.
Creative Thinking Working with chocolate sparks innovation.
Positive Morale Every participant contributes, strengthening purpose.
Explore More Chocolate Experiences
Chocolate Safaris® Guided flavour journeys in chocolate cities like Bruges, York, and London.
The Xocolat Factory An “Apprentice”-style challenge to rescue a fictional chocolate company.
Workshops & Tastings From silky truffles to treasure hunts, tailored for every team.
Conclusion
At Hôtel La Verniaz, Danone’s international team discovered that chocolate is more than food it’s a powerful catalyst for collaboration, creativity, and connection.
The combination of Alpine scenery, historic charm, and hands-on chocolate making delivered a retreat that participants described as unforgettable.
Ready to sweeten your team’s experience? Contact Coeur de Xocolat to design your next chocolate-fuelled adventure.