Matt and Teri Legon of chocolate makers Gnaw in their new factory at the Livestock Market, Norwich.
PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY
Norfolk chocolate maker opens new factory
By DAVID BALE
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
2:16 PM
A Norfolk chocolate maker has moved into larger premises and is starting to export across the world, after a rapid rise in just 16 months.
Gnaw has taken a lease at the Livestock Market in Hall Road, south Norwich, and built a chocolate factory at the site.
Matt and Teri Legon founded Gnaw chocolate in Brooke, south Norfolk, in February last year after selling their Norwich store, Mr Simms’ Olde Sweet Shoppe, in London Street.
Their new premises are three-and-a-half times bigger than those in Brooke and they have now taken on three extra staff, with a total workforce now approaching 10.
Mr Legon said: “We have already invested about £400,000 in the company and are on target for a turnover of the same amount.
“We have grown rapidly and are already exporting to 600 retailers across the UK and to Denmark, France and Dubai.
“We are really proud of what we’ve done.”
The company makes 28 different brands of chocolate bar, hot choc shots and chocolate drops. These include lemon meringue, mint choc chip, banoffee pie, Norfolk lavender, cherry bomb and peanut butter.
Mr Legon added: “We never expected to do so well so quickly.
“I think we are different in what we do and have a unique selling point. We have brought the fun back into chocolates and are different to anything else on the market.”
Although their chocolate is sourced from Belgium, they buy in lavender and chilli peppers from Norfolk suppliers.
“We’re very much a Norfolk product, we’re very proud that every single bar is handmade in Norfolk,” added Mr Legon.
david.bale2@archant.co.uk
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6 comments
So I could have just brought tanker loads of beer in from Belgium, messed around with it a bit, bunged it in some pretty packaging and I would still have been a brewer? I don`t think so.
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Mad Brewer
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
If only it was that easy Mad Brewer. I have a lot of experience working with chocolate and it can be extremely tempremental. It is evident that you have no idea of the workings of a chocolate factory, as you can't just buy it in and re-pack it. Maybe you should do your research as to the amount of work that goes in to the whole process. The raw ingredients are brought in from Belgium, just as they are for every British chocolate manufacturer that I know of. There are perhaps 2 small manufacturers in the UK who make their products directly from the cocoa bean, as it is just so expensive to do so. Gnaw use good quality ingredients in their chocolate and it doesn't contain any unhealthy vegtable fats or butter fats , where all the big brands do.
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chocolateworld
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
It`s MADE in Belgium. Read the story!
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Mad Brewer
Monday, August 20, 2012
They don`t make chocolate, they buy it in from Belgium. Then they muck about with it, wrap it prettily & sell it on. Charlies at the chocolate non-factory!
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Mad Brewer
Monday, August 20, 2012
great to see chocolate being made in Norwich again.
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nrg
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Hooray for G'naw, a Norfolk success story. Good chocolate too!
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alecto
Wednesday, August 15, 2012