Chocolarder invests £100k in chocolate making equipment

The manufacturer approached the provider to help finance a new cooling line and additional equipment to help regulate and optimise the temperature of the chocolate prior to packing.

Chocolarder said the investment would help the business meet growing demand for its ‘ethically produced’ bean-to-bar chocolate.

Founder Mike Longman said the new cooling line has already helped to improve consistency and accelerate production:

‘Timely investment’​

“We’re grateful to the Ignition team for assisting with funding for this equipment. The introduction of the cooling line has been very timely, helping us to meet unprecedented demand, particularly over the busy Christmas period,”​ he continued.

“We are absolutely focused on creating delicious, high-quality chocolate using sustainable and ethical practices, and the cooling line will help us to ensure it can be enjoyed by even more customers across the country and beyond.”​

Chocolarder has been trading near Falmouth for almost ten years and is one of only a handful of bean-to-bar dark and milk chocolate makers in the country, supplying retailers such as Selfridges and The Great Cornish Food Store.

Organic cocoa beans are sourced directly from selected single estate and family run plantations across the world: from Peru and Dominican Republic to Sierra Leone, Madagascar and Colombia.

Partnership ​

The chocolate maker approached Ignition three years ago for help financing a winnower for removing the out shells of cocoa beans.

Ross Hyde, relationship manager from Ignition added: “We’re really pleased to have been part of Chocolarder’s journey, providing finance for essential equipment to help them grow. ​

“We look forward to continuing to assist Mike and his team in the years to come, and to watching the company flourish – they definitely have the recipe for success.”​

Meanwhile, meat processor Pilgrim’s UK has invested £1.8m in its Bodmin site​​ as part of its ongoing strategy to expand its operational capacity and strengthen the sustainability of the business.