Azerbaijan and the Chocolate Factory

After subjecting the country to months of candy deprivation, Nestlé reportedly is making a crunchy comeback in oil-rich, chocolate-poor Azerbaijan.
British Petroleum is pumping chocolaty crude out of Azerbaijan and, according to local media, Nestlé will soon restart pumping chocolate into the country.

The world’s largest food company suspended all food supplies to the Caspian Sea country during (atrociously enough) this year's confectionery-intense New Year festivities.  

The Swiss manufacturer at the time cited unspecified “supply problems.” Local sources were quick to link Nestlé’s démarche with the company’s alleged problems with Azerbaijani customs officials, who are routinely accused of skimming a little off the top of any product crossing the border.

Nestlé did not elaborate about its motives, but with Azerbaijan repeatedly placed at the bottom of the Transparency International list of corrupt countries, such claims were not widely questioned.

But let bygone be bygones. Citing the company's press service, 1news.az reported that Nestlé is back and plans to set up a Baku-based subsidiary. Many of its brands, from ice cream to infant food, will appear in retail shops soon, the company allegedly says, and talks are afoot with several local distributors.

Hopefully, nobody bites off any of the Nestlé chocolate as it reenters Azerbaijan.