Award-Winning Chocolatier Crowdfunds Transformation of Butcher’s Shop into Plant-Based Chocolaterie
Chocolatier, Karen Waller, is transforming a butcher’s shop in Totnes, Devon, into Tempt – a plant-based chocolaterie and café. Tempt aims to provide not only delicious, ethical, artisan, plant-based chocolate, but a much-needed social hub for Totnes’s Bridgetown community, which has now seen all but one other shop converted into residential use.
To help fund the venture, Waller has launched a prize draw fundraising campaign offering chocolate lovers the chance to win a whole year’s worth of chocolate. The grand prize includes a monthly delivery of assorted handmade chocolates, bars, and speciality items, valued over £1,000. A second prize features a luxurious Christmas and Easter chocolate hamper.
Waller, with over 15 years experience in the chocolate industry — including as Head Chocolatier at the renowned Rococo Chocolates in London — is passionate about creating chocolate that not only tastes good but also respects animals, people and the planet. “Our chocolates are for everyone, especially those who care deeply about what they consume, including vegans and those with dairy intolerances,” says Waller. “But the irony of transforming a shop that’s been a butcher’s for nearly 250 years into a plant-based chocolaterie and café isn’t lost on us – in fact, we felt we had to do it, as soon as we saw that the lease was available.”
The funds from the campaign will be used to finish renovations and purchase equipment, however the majority of it will be used to stabilise cash flow. “Very shortly after signing the lease, world cocoa prices more than doubled, due to a shortage in the African bulk harvests,” adds Waller. “This led to increasing scarcity so, because we make all our own milk and white chocolate in-house, we had to take loans to buy as much cocoa, nibs and butter as we could get our hands on to make sure we had enough to last the year. There’s no point in opening a chocolaterie if you haven’t got any chocolate. The funds from this campaign will be essential to help us get back on track.”
Waller aims to be opening Tempt by the end of May, with its online store launching shortly after.
Karen Waller lives in Bridgetown, Totnes, and has been a prominent figure in the chocolate industry for over 15 years, known for her tenure as Head Chocolatier at Rococo Chocolates in London, and her award-winning creations. She has been a regular judge for the Academy of Chocolate Awards. Her passion for chocolate and commitment to ethical practices have been the cornerstone of her career.
The prize draw can be entered at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/win-a-years-worth-of-artisan-chocolate.
