Member Article

Mawdsley-based Chocolate Magic tastes sweet success of growth

Mawdsley-based manufacturer Chocolate Magic has located to new premises and acquired new machinery to increase production, thanks to the Growth Mentoring programme run by Boost Business Lancashire.

The West Lancashire chocolate business has also entered new markets and is winning regular orders from new customers, including delicatessens, restaurants and other retailers across the North West.

The company had been operating from home and needed assistance finding suitable business premises.

Boost Business Lancashire is the £7.2m Lancashire Business Growth Hub, offering free and part-funded business support to ambitious and growing businesses.

Delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and supported by £3.6m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it aims to grow Lancashire’s economy by £20m and create at least 1,200 new jobs and safeguard 700 more by 2015.

After learning about Boost’s Growth Mentoring Programme, Chocolate Magic owners, Sue and Malcolm, were teamed up with mentor Phil Heaven, regional director for Shopper Anonymous Lancashire.

Sue said: “We needed support to continue growing the business and expand our wholesale activity, as well as improving our understanding of the food and confectionary sector.

“We also required advice on entering new markets, such as hospitality, along with brand support, both in labeling and online visibility, plus expanding our range of products.”

Phil commented: “Malcolm and Susan displayed real enthusiasm and passion for their product and were keen to expand their operation to become a recognised brand.

“The quality of their product and its packaging were already established so the focus of our work together was building a cohesive plan to open up new sales channels.

“This involved taking a wide view of the business from its supply of chocolate, through manufacturing, packing, and sales.

“Malcolm has always been prepared to invest in new premises and machinery.

“He also realised that more resources would be necessary to build sales, while not moving away from his proven sales outlets.”

“At the end of the project, the investment had been made, new customers had placed orders, Malcolm was close to agreeing a new supply channel, and the business was ready to enter a new and exciting phase of its growth.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .