Chocolatier’s trade picks up again thanks to Easter

A CHOCOLATE maker in Wargrave says her trade is finally returning to normal after the coronavirus pandemic.

Rosie Adey, who runs Rosie’s Chocolate Factory at Sheeplands Farm, said sales and bookings were back to the levels of 2019.

She has sold more than 100 Easter eggs to individuals and businesses and more egg-shaped chocolate slabs than she can count.

She is also fully booked for workshops and parties over the Easter holidays.

Mrs Adey, who started the business seven years ago, said: “It’s starting to feel right and normal again, which is a huge relief because when covid hit things stopped pretty much overnight.

“It was a really stressful time. No one knew what was going on and went into panic mode, didn’t they?

“At Easter 2020 the chocolate sales were okay but that’s only a small part of the business, the chocolate workshops are the big part. I lost all that and then just made the best out of it.

“I’d bought in loads of chocolate to do the workshops, so I was doing lots online and that really helped. I’ve got the most amazing customers and they’re so supportive.”

All of Mrs Adey’s creations are made with chocolate from Stewart & Arnold in Banbury.

Her most popular online item this year is her Biscoff bunnies, a recipe she created during the first lockdown. The milk chocolate bunnies are filled with Biscoff spread, biscuits and white chocolate. Her favourite items to make are personalised gifts, especially for men wanting to surprise their wives.

Mrs Adey said: “They’ll be like, ‘Well, I think she likes this’. It’s working on things like that — anything that has got love behind it.”

She also enjoys running parties and workshops for children where she shows them cacao beans and explains how chocolate is made. Mrs Adey, who is originally from Henley, said: “My favourite thing about chocolate is showing people and sharing it. As much as I love the orders and making things, there’s nothing like doing parties — they’re so much fun.

“I’ve been doing it for so long I’ve seen children grow up because they start really young.”

Mrs Adey went to Trinity Primary School, Gillotts School and The Henley College before becoming a chocolatier.

She said: “I never really knew what I wanted to do until I found chocolate. I worked for somebody else for three years and then an opportunity came up to start up on my own, so I took it. It has been the best seven years of my life.”

She now lives in Woodley with her husband Joe, a teacher.

With the smell of chocolate from the three machines whirring melted white, milk and dark chocolate at the back of the workshop, does she ever get sick of it?

“Never,” she said, “I love it. I can generally get through a day without eating it but sometimes, you know, it’s part of the job.”