Pete Gardner developed Chocolate Alchemy last year after 10 years working as a bartender. Pete spent 2 months teaching himself to produce the chocolates before pitching for a partially goverment funded loan to start the business.

The whole concept has been designed to grow as a franchise and run as a branded operation. Chocolate Alchemy has an instore coffee shop, runs chocolate making classes and holds regular birthday and hen parties where the hens produce the bride's wedding favours.

All the chocolates are produced on the premises and will be the same for each store across the brand following the same set recipes.

Chocolate Alchemy have several corporate clients, with the biggest currently being Loughborough University.