How Yorkshire’s Choc Affair has grown from a kitchen table business 15 year ago to employing 23 people

When her daughters were milk-intolerant Linda Barrie decided to make chocolate they could still enjoy. Catherine Scott reports.
Linda Barrie (left) Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in York   watching Chocolatier Georgia Parker  making some chocolate bars.Linda Barrie (left) Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in York   watching Chocolatier Georgia Parker  making some chocolate bars.
Linda Barrie (left) Founder and Owner of Choc Affair in York watching Chocolatier Georgia Parker making some chocolate bars.

It is 15 years since Linda Barrie launched York’s Choc Affair after discovering her daughters’ were intolerant to milk.

“Alternative diets were not as widely recognised as they are now,” recalls Linda.

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“There were few options available for the girls. So with a little creativity, lots of soya milk, dark chocolate and raw sugar, I made them a hot chocolate – they loved it.

Linda Barrie  Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in YorkLinda Barrie  Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in York
Linda Barrie Founder and Owner of Choc Affair in York

“I had a feeling there could be a business idea here, so I explored the idea with a designer and the concept of our hot chocolate on a stick was born.”

But the launch of her business didn’t go as smoothly as she hoped.

“I contacted the chocolatier who was going to produce my first confectionery product for me, only to be told he was off during the month of January, so wouldn’t be making me any samples.”

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Linda says it turned out to be blessing in disguise as it gave her the push she needed to purchase her own mini chocolate machine, a box of chocolate curvature, and after reading the instruction book, have a go herself.

Linda Barrie  Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in YorkLinda Barrie  Founder and Owner of  Choc Affair in York
Linda Barrie Founder and Owner of Choc Affair in York

With demand growing for Linda’s hot chocolate stirrer, she began developing further confectionery ranges which resulted in her small business garnering national appeal.

“For the first two years I maintained my day job; working early mornings and late night, with my husband and family members drafted in to help,” says Linda.

“The whole house was overtaken by chocolate packaging; the smell of chocolate pervading throughout the house until we decided it was time to convert the garage into a small chocolate production unit.”

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By the third year the business was growing and Linda realised something had to give.

Chocolate  bars being made at Choc Affair  in YorkChocolate  bars being made at Choc Affair  in York
Chocolate bars being made at Choc Affair in York

“My work-life balance was all upside down and my husband and I both had jobs, the children and the chocolate.”

When she was made redundant it enabled her to concentrate on her chocolate business full-time. She was then joined by her brother-in-law and they expanded into new premises in the Yorvale Business Park in York.

She now employs 23. Through a friendship with a probation officer, in 2010 she was asked if she had any employment opportunities for a young man who was going through a difficult period, facing the possibility of a jail sentence, with the view that he would benefit from some stability within a work environment.

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“We said yes, and that was the start of a new chapter for us. We’ve worked with other external agencies since, offering work for those who struggle to gain access into the employment market through traditional routes – due to a history of offending, or because they are in recovery and in more recent years partnering with the Blueberry Academy working with young adults with learning differences. This part of the journey has really formed who we are as a company, with our aim being to provide a nurturing atmosphere. Our aim, is that we can be a springboard – a place to understand the expectations of an employer and to learn how to get into the routine of work, with the end result being a good reference to move onto something which excites them and makes them want to get of bed to go to work.

People have become experience-oriented,” says Linda. “Chocolate used to be perceived as an indulgence, however, with consumer behaviour changing at a rapid pace, it is crucial that businesses constantly evolve so that they survive.

“When I started Choc Affair, I was one of few who were offering sustainable, ethical and palm oil free chocolate and I am over the moon that more confectionery brands are now becoming environmentally and socially conscious as we all have a responsibly to protect and respect communities and the planet we live on.” With the UK going into its first lockdown in late-March 2020 this hit the wholesale side of Linda’s business heavily.

“I won’t lie, the first week of the first lockdown was difficult, I didn’t sleep a wink and was devastated that the wholesale side of the business closed literally overnight,” recalls Linda. “I then started to notice a rapid increase of sales from the consumer-facing side of the business which has kept us open, despite being on skeleton staff.”

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She started developing chocolate boxes and experiences such as Work From Home treat boxes, chocolate making kits for children and more recently, a Chocolate Tasting Experience which is ideal for those looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a loved one.

“Over the last year, sales on the consumer side of the business have increased by over 1500 per cent and lead to us bringing our team back into the business in late summer 2020. I feel so grateful that since then we have been non-stop and even ran out of our Christmas range of chocolate two weeks before the festive period which has never happened to us before.”

Now amid a third national lockdown, Linda is now prepping for a stronger future for Choc Affair.

“I feel incredibly blessed that we’ve reached our 15th year in business, and I am proud of what the team has achieved. Throughout 2021, we will be introducing a plant-based oat milk chocolate bar, several new experiences as well as a range of seasonal flavoured chocolate bars. Consumers are becoming more adventurous and as an independent chocolate making business, it is our duty to spread a little bit of chocolate happiness.”

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■ Choc Affair is part of The Chocolate Dream Protect where they contribute financially to the cocoa growing communities of Colombia where Choc Affair sources its cocoa from.

www.choc-affair.com

www.facebook.com/ChocAffair

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