Maker Member Directory
Bare Bones Chocolate
Head Chocolate Maker - Cameron Dixon
Business Type - Factory, online store & walk-in shop
Location - Glasgow
Open to the public - Yes (shop)
Bare Bones Chocolate, founded by Lara and Cameron in Glasgow, Scotland, began producing micro-batch chocolate bars in 2018. Their mission is to create the best possible chocolate using fine cacao, while maintaining a sustainable business model. Their self-designed, colourful boxes made from recycled coffee cups and are recyclable and their inner paper wrappers are made from food waste and are compostable.
Lara, a food photographer, and Cameron, a mechanical engineer, shared a deep appreciation for complex coffee flavours—a passion that sparked their journey into the world of craft chocolate. What began as curiosity quickly evolved into experimenting with micro-batches of bean-to-bar chocolate in their home kitchen. They borrowed a coffee bean roaster and transformed their homemade creations into what would become Bare Bones—a brand born from flavour, craftsmanship, and a love for the process.
Bare Bones sources rare, high-quality cacao beans globally, paying premium prices well above fair trade. This ensures superior crops, fosters sustainable farming practices, and builds strong relationships with farmers, underscoring their belief that exceptional chocolate begins with exceptional farmers.
BeanCraft Chocolate
Head Chocolate Maker - Nicky Couch
Business Type - Factory, online store
Location - Bradford-on-Avon, WIltshire
Open to the public - No
BeanCraft was founded in 2019 by Nicky and Tom Couch, just before the pandemic hit, after Nicky went on a chocolatier experience course with a good friend of hers. Based in Bradford on Avon, the husband-and-wife duo are a team of just two, although their two teenage children help out with the chocolate tasting – Nicky does the chocolate making, bar wrapping, and finance, whereas Tom focusses on the website, packaging, logistics and is chief winnower!.
BeanCraft’s mission is to make delicious chocolate which fully develops the unique flavours of the beans using as few quality ingredients as possible, while doing justice to the extraordinary effort that goes into growing the cocoa beans that they use.
Currently, BeanCraft source their beans through a number of suppliers including Silva Cacao, Uncommon Cacao and Belco, who are able to ensure that the beans they supply are ethically sourced and transparently traded. As BeanCraft grows, the pair want to work more closely with the cocoa farmers while still maintaining traceability and ensuring that the farmers receive a living wage for the beans that they use
Chocolarder
Head Chocolate Maker - Mike Longman
Business Type - Factory, online store & walk-in shop
Location - Falmouth
Open to the public - Yes
Chocolarder, established in 2012 by former pastry chef Mike Longman, stands as a pioneering bean-to-bar chocolate maker in the UK and the sole one in Cornwall. Mike's culinary background, particularly his dedication to sourcing premium, local ingredients while managing a pastry kitchen, fuelled his ambition to craft chocolate within Cornwall.
The company is deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices, evident in its plastic-free packaging, products free from palm oil and emulsifiers, support for reforestation initiatives, and direct sourcing of slavery-free ingredients from farmers.
Chocolarder aspires to be a positive influence, championing zero-carbon production and the use of compostable and recyclable materials. Their unwavering principle is to produce only truly sustainable products without compromise, reflecting a holistic approach to chocolate making that prioritizes both quality and planetary well-being.
Dormouse Chocolates
Head Chocolate Maker - Isobel Carse
Business Type - Factory, online store & walk-in shop
Location - Manchester
Open to the public - Yes
Manchester’s first bean to bar chocolate maker, Dormouse Chocolates, started producing its very first batches in Isobel’s home kitchen in December 2014. Prior to this, Isobel Carse, founder of Dormouse Chocolates, started her craft chocolate journey as a professional bean-to-bar chocolatier, making filled chocolates and chocolate for in house use. After starting out on her own, Dormouse Chocolates outgrew its small kitchen space, and moved its operations to its own small-scale chocolate factory – today, Karen, Isobel’s partner, helps out with winnowing and events.
Their commitment to "Buy good beans, make good chocolate" drives their continuous efforts to improve sourcing. They prioritize unusual and exceptional tasting beans for distinct flavours. They work with trusted suppliers who are transparent, either trading directly (like Kablon Farms) or through companies that publish transparency reports (like Uncommon Cacao).
Duffy’s
Head Chocolate Maker - Duffy Sheardown
Business Type - Factory, online store & walk-in shop
Location - Humberston, Lincolnshire
Open to the public - Yes
Duffy's Chocolate, established in 2008 by Duffy Sheardown, emerged from a realization that only one company in England was making chocolate directly from cocoa beans. This sparked Duffy's passion, leading him to Guatemala in 2009 to learn and perfect the intricate art of chocolate making over 18 months.
Based in Lincolnshire, Duffy's Chocolate pioneered the artisan bean-to-bar movement in the UK. The company is characterized by its hands-on approach, directly sourcing most of its beans from farmers. They exclusively acquire the top 10% of available cocoa beans, paying significantly above fair-trade prices to support farmers and encourage the cultivation of unique, flavour-rich cocoa varieties.
The chocolate-making process at Duffy's is a testament to their dedication, involving a meticulous four-day roasting and stone-grinding process for small batches. This is followed by up to three months of storage to allow flavours to fully develop, with each bar then individually hand-wrapped. This unwavering commitment to quality, ethical sourcing, and detailed craftsmanship defines the essence of Duffy's Chocolate.
NearyNógs Chocolate
Head Chocolate Maker - Shane & Dorothy Neary
Business Type - Factory, online store, walk-in shop, tours & café
Location - Newry, Northern Ireland
Open to the public - Yes
NearyNógs, a family-run craft chocolate maker, operates from a repurposed potato farm in County Down, Northern Ireland, with scenic views of the Irish Sea and Mourne Mountains. Founded by Shane and Dorothy Neary in 2011, the business grew from Dorothy's family confectionery background and became a full-time endeavour for Shane after a personal family illness, allowing him to dedicate more time to his daughter and the burgeoning chocolate venture.
The company is deeply rooted in family, with their older children actively contributing to various aspects of the business. NearyNógs is committed to engaging and educating its local community, offering tours, hosting tasting sessions with local distilleries and chefs, and developing educational programs for schools about the origins and manufacturing of chocolate. They meticulously source cocoa beans from diverse global regions, including Thailand, Ecuador, Tanzania, and Mexico, prioritizing strong relationships with cacao producers and hand-sorting beans to ensure exceptional flavours in their chocolate.
Tosier Chocolate
Head Chocolate Maker - Deanna Tilston
Business Type - Factory, tasting room, online store, walk-in shop & café
Location - Middleton, Suffolk
Open to the public - Yes
Tosier Chocolatemaker, founded by Deanna Tilston in 2016 and launched in 2017, is a family business dedicated to crafting high-quality, small-batch chocolate. Deanna's passion for chocolate making, sparked by her experiences in Europe and further developed through courses at Ecole Chocolat and Cocoatown, led her to create world-class chocolate.
The business, which started in Deanna's basement, has grown organically into a dedicated small-batch chocolate factory. Her husband, Jonathan, manages sales and marketing, while their son, Émile, a trained chef, handles production. Tosier's product range has expanded to include bars, dragées, pralines, and Freddy Rocks.
Tosier prioritizes taste and flavour, processing chocolate in sixty-four kilo batches, ensuring quality and traceability. They are committed to a transparent supply chain, guaranteeing fair prices for farmers and positively impacting cocoa-growing communities. The Tosier Tasting Rooms, Café, and Shop are located in Middleton, Suffolk.
Pump Street Chocolate
Head Chocolate Maker - Joanna Brennan
Business Type - Factory, online store, walk-in shop, café, & classes
Location - Orford, Suffolk
Open to the public - Yes
Pump Street Chocolate, founded by the father-and-daughter team Chris and Joanna Brennan, has evolved from a renowned bakery mastering naturally-leavened bread to a celebrated bean-to-bar chocolate maker. Their philosophy centres on meticulous attention to detail, aiming to showcase the distinct flavours of each cocoa bean and combining these flavours with those of their baked goods for their Bakery Series.
The company is deeply committed to ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring a transparent supply chain that supports cocoa farmers globally. They source their beans from family farms and cooperatives in diverse regions including Hacienda Victoria, Guayas, Ecuador, and Akesson’s Estate, Ambanja, Madagascar. Pump Street Chocolate is also dedicated to environmental responsibility, utilising plastic-free packaging for their products.
While the bakery shop and chocolate shop are in Orford’s main square, the bakehouse is just outside the village. Next door, the new Pump Street Workshop offers courses and experiences around baking and craft chocolate to encourage exploration and understanding of the art and science of artisan baking and craft chocolate making.