Northern Irish Chocolatier takes Valentine's Day to heart

Cobden and Brown, the Northern Irish artisan chocolatier, has launched a chocolate product specially for Valentine's Day.

The small company, based at Moira in county Down, has created creamy milk chocolate hearts covered in a pink metallic glitter and wrapped with red ribbons for retailers for the
'big day', RRP £3.99.

The new product, developed and handcrafted by Caroline McArdle, owner of Cobden and Brown, is already on sale in Northern Ireland ahead of Valentine's Day.

The small company is one of Northern Ireland's leading producers of a range of chocolate bars. It recently introduced a 100 per cent cacao bar in response to market demands for sugar-free treats.

The introduction of bespoke chocolates for major occasions such as Easter, Christmas, and Valentine's Day is a new development for the company aimed at growing its business in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

"The bespoke chocolates give me an opportunity to showcase my expertise as a chocolatier and to develop a different market category," says Mrs McArdle.

Cobden and Brown was launched by Mrs McArdle, a graphic designer by profession, in 2011.

"The Cobden and Brown identity reflects the philosophy underpinning the business; we produce delicious chocolates that taste and look great and are also gluten-free, the latter being an important and developing market opportunity. This means that people with coeliac disease, for example, can continue to enjoy delicious chocolate that's handcrafted and without gluten."

Caroline's decision to start making chocolate followed her son being diagnosed with the coeliac condition. She began making chocolate treats for him in her kitchen and then faced approaches from family, friends and other contacts seeking to experience her range of chocolate bars.

After a few years of research and experience gained working with some of the finest chocolatiers in the world, she produced a chocolate delicious enough for all, especially coeliacs, to enjoy.

In addition to being gluten-free, Cobden and Brown chocolates are free from wheat and eggs. The company's dark chocolate is also dairy-free.

Another key feature of the products is that they are produced without any processed ingredients. The products are carefully handmade in small batches to recipes that she has developed and are fully tested as being gluten-free by a fully accredited laboratory.

"This means that customers can count on the products being completely gluten-free and on the provenance of all the ingredients. We have total control over the sourcing of all ingredients and the entire production process," she adds.