From vegconomist.com
UK company Catherine’s Originals has launched what is claimed to be the UK’s first vegan chocolate selection tin. The product is intended to provide an alternative to brands such as Quality Street and Roses, which are often eaten over the Christmas period.
Each tin contains 81 chocolates, with nine flavours available:
- The Cookie Muncher — A plant-based take on Milky Way bars.
- Popped Cherry — A lip-shaped chocolate with a pink cherry centre.
- Dangerously in Love — A coffee-flavoured truffle.
- Heartbreaker — An orange and almond-flavoured chocolate.
- Snap-me-Coconut — Inspired by Bounty bars.
- Bite-me-Balls — A semi-sphere filled with vegan caramel.
- Tease Me — Contains crunchy vegan honeycomb.
- Milky-O’s — A hazelnut praline.
- Baby I’m Blue — A lavender and chamomile-flavoured chocolate.
The fillings are made by hand before being coated in chocolate and wrapped in brightly coloured foils. All the chocolates are gluten-free and made with RSPO-certified, fairly traded cocoa. Customers can choose from two formats — a reusable tin priced at £30 or a more compact cardboard box for £13.50.
“A festive essential”
Catherine’s Originals was founded by Catherine Dodd when she was just 18; as a vegan, she missed out on sharing a chocolate selection tin with her family and saw a gap in the market for a plant-based alternative. After months of research and testing, the first boxes were launched at a Christmas fair in 2021. They proved to be a huge success, with all 650 boxes sold.
Along with her partner, Jamie Miller, Dodd successfully raised funding via investments, business grants, and a crowdfunding campaign; the company also received £25,000 from The Deliveroo Big Pitch. The fundraising enabled them to build a 2000-square-foot facility in Arundel, Sussex. Since then, the entrepreneurs have won three business awards, and now have a team of six employees.
Research suggests that the global vegan chocolate market will be worth $2 billion by 2032, growing with a considerable CAGR of 13.1%. Demand will be driven by increasing concerns about health, sustainability, and animal welfare.
“It’s been quite a journey but I’m delighted to see my vision come to life and know that thousands of people will be able to enjoy a tin of Catherine’s Originals this Christmas,” said Dodd. “A box is great for all year round but a tin is a festive essential.”
The selection tin is now available from the Catherine’s Originals website, along with over 60 independent UK retailers and various wholesalers.
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