Chocolatier tastes success this Easter

09/04/2009

A Yorkshire chocolatier, which specialises in Fair Trade Belgium Chocolate, says business is booming this Easter thanks to support from the Rural Development Programme for England which is managed by Yorkshire Forward.

Choc Affair based in Naburn near York has been operating for three years producing high end quality chocolate and is going from strength to strength, having experienced an increase in orders and new business as people opt for chocolate and night’s in during the current down turn.

Choc Affair accessed a grant to purchase new equipment enabling the company to introduce new lines to the current range, increase productivity and create products with different kinds of chocolate.

“Since purchasing the new equipment we have developed a new range of flavoured chocolate which we are going to showcase at the Real Food Festival next month. Our new range is flavoured with essential oils which include rhubarb, lime, aniseed rose and pepper mint.

“We are also looking at producing children’s lollies and developing a Christmas range this year” continued Linda Barrie, founder of Choc Affair. 

Hotels have opened up a new market for Choc Affair with requests for individually wrapped and branded chocolate bars to be placed in hotel room bars. Add that to the 70 shops it already supplies and the hundreds of households it sends chocolate parcels to already - business is booming.

Linda, who used to work in the cosmetic industry, decided to start Choc Affair after experimenting with chocolate recipes for her dairy-intolerant daughters as she became frustrated by the lack of sweets available.

“The grant has also helped with implementing a marketing and PR strategy to raise brand awareness, and the new website will be launching at the end of the month. In addition we are also looking at design work for new packaging.

“I have recently taken on a business partner who has a strong background in sales so I now employ two full time people along with my part time packers and I’m looking to recruit another full time member and negotiating a new work unit of 1600 sq feet.    Without the grant I would not have been able to develop my business and take it to the next stage” concluded Linda.

Andy Tordoff, Assistant Director Environment (Tourism and Rural Renaissance), at Yorkshire Forward said; “More than 80% of our region is rural, so it is vital that we support the growth of businesses in our rural communities if we are to grow the region’s economy as whole.”

The Rural Business Support Programme, which is part of the Rural Development Programme for England, is administered by Business Link as part of their support for the establishment of new businesses across the region.

Notes to editors:

The Rural Development Programme for England is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union and is managed by Yorkshire Forward in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Further information on the Rural Business Support Programme (RBSP) may be obtained by contacting Business Link.

Business Link Yorkshire

One Capitol Court, Capitol Business Park, Dodsworth, Barnsley, S75 3TZ
Tel: 08456 048048 or info@businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk


Yorkshire Forward

  • Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency behind the economic regeneration of Yorkshire and Humber. It aims to make a positive difference by investing in jobs, improving towns and cities, and in supporting businesses throughout the region.
  • Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the region is maximised by attracting European Regional Development Funding from the Objective One and Two programmes.
  • For further information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Laura Scholey, Press Executive on 0113 3949540 or email laura.scholey@yorkshire-forward.com