Belfast chocolatiers craft success in Germany
Baxter Murray Creative Chocolate, Northern Ireland's Great Taste award winning chocolatier, has secured new export sales in Germany, France and Poland.
The innovative company, which takes pride in producing chocolates by traditional artisan techniques, has recently supplied promotional chocolates to ResearchNow, a leading European business in life sciences.
The deal, regarded by Baxter Murray as a strategically important breakthrough in two of the most competitive European markets, required the Belfast-based chocolatier to develop gift chocolates for the recent Medica 2011 biotechnology/life sciences trade fair and congress in Dusseldorf.
Baxter Murray, formed by husband and wife team Michael Murray and Karen Baxter in 1995, has gained a clutch of Great Taste Awards for deliciously different and handcrafted truffles, as well as personalised, custom, luxury promotional Belgian chocolates, lollipops, bars, coins and medals.
"The business in Germany came as the result of very positive referral from the company's operation in Britain. We created individually wrapped chocolates in the shape of their logo. They were clearly impressed by the quality of the chocolates and the packaging and recommended us to the German management. We are also producing chocolates from the company's operations in France and Poland," Mr Murray says.
The company blends rich Belgian chocolate with milk and cream from Northern Ireland suppliers to create a comprehensive range of products for promotional and retail markets.
"Our freshly handmade Belgian chocolate lollipops, bars and truffles are all produced by skilled chocolatiers from finest quality Belgian chocolate which is certified as nut, gluten and GM free.
"We've now developed a successful business that specialises in corporate gifts that can be supplied as customers require and can be used very effectively to increase brand awareness. We have over 4,000 existing designs available to make things easy for customers.
"Our product range includes a selection of chocolate lollipops which are suitable for all events and seasons from St. Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, May Day, St. Patrick's Day, St. David's Day, St. Georges Day, St. Andrew's Day right through to Halloween and Christmas.
The business was established as part of a change of career direction by the enterprising couple. They previously ran a successful café but their love of chocolate got the better of them. "We saw a gap in the market to produce fine quality chocolate to compliment the PR and marketing activities of the business community within Ireland and the United Kingdom.
"We create chocolates using artisan techniques, by hand. All the moulds for solid chocolates are filled by hand; the chocolates are finished by hand and with the utmost care and attention packaged by hand," he adds.
They spent two years researching and producing a business plan. Then, in 1995, they had an opportunity to buy chocolate machinery at an auction in Dublin.
As well as major international businesses such as BT and HSBC, the company supplies chocolates to Belfast and Dublin zoos. Over 70 per cent of Baxter Murray products are sold to customers in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Dublin Zoo, for example, is supplied with 11 unique moulded chocolate lollies in a range of adult and children's sizes, including a lion, lioness, lion cub, two different elephant designs, a monkey, penguin, gorilla, toucans and a tiger, all in custom designed Dublin Zoo branded packaging.