60 Second Interview: The Chocolate Tree

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Hi Friends,

They say variety is the spice of life, well how about the CHOCOLATE of life instead? Ali Gower one of the founders of The Chocolate Tree was kind enough to grant me a 60-second interview. Thanks very much Ali! This could be the first of many Food & Drink interviews to come!

* Disclosure: I have not been compensated by The Chocolate Tree in any way.

Picture taken from the-chocolate-tree.co.uk

Ali Gower. Picture taken from The Chocolate Tree

  • What inspired you to start your own business?

Hobby / Passion that turned into business

  • Did any particular organizations or individuals help you start The Chocolate Tree?

Business gateway grant

  • Did you do much research before you began your business?

Yes. Lots. Still do

  • Do you feel you’ve learned from any failures or challenges you might have had?

Absolutely. Recognition of failure is the path to improvement

  • What has been your favorite achievement to date?

Bean to bar chocolate making, Direct relationship with cacao growers

  • What advice would you give to people thinking about starting a business today?

Be prepared to work a schedule beyond what would be deemed reasonable to make it succeed, miss out on many of the normal luxuries working for someone else can offer (ie. holidays, consistent pay), to take risks and lose sleep.

  • Do you have a favorite Chocolate Tree product?

No… I have at least four:

Bar: Bean to bar Madagascar 72%*

Cake: tiramisu
Bonbon: coconut & passionfruit
Gelato: almond & honey

(*Note: I purchased two of the bean-to-bar Madagascar bars as Christmas gifts for a friend, I ended up giving him just the one… I have no regrets about this at all.)

Origami chocolate box. Picture taken from The Chocolate Tree

Origami chocolate box. Picture taken from The Chocolate Tree

The Chocolate Tree was founded in Edinburgh/East Lothian, and has in just a few years grown from a hobby to one of the best  indulgences you can lay your hands on. With their emphasis on ethics, be it their banking partners or their relationships with cocoa farmers, their values provide a strong foundation for their business growth, with no signs of slowing down. The love they clearly have for their business shows through not only in their relationships but also in the high quality of their products.

The Chocolate Tree can be found on http://www.the-chocolate-tree.co.uk and their products are now sold in over 50 stores in Scotland, England and The Netherlands. They can also be visited in person at markets in Edinburgh and Haddington or at their cafe in Edinburgh. If you visit them in person I highly recommend the Peruvian hot chocolate, it is my favorite and if it disappeared from the menu I might do terrible things 🙂

If you are a student in Scotland and you have an idea you want to see become reality then you should enter the Young Innovators Challenge! With six categories to choose from (Including Food & Drink!) each with a prize of £50,000 investment + One YEAR of business support, you could see your business go from just an idea to the sort of thing that makes stomachs growl across the land. For all the info you need visit www.sie.ac.uk/YIC

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