Sweet deal sees chocolate factory launch in York
Chocolate manufacturing is seeing a resurgence in York, with the launch of a York Cocoa House city centre factory.
Tapping into York’s confectionery heritage, York Cocoa Works has been launched by Sophie Jewett, the entrepreneur behind the York Cocoa House.
The site at 10 Castlegate, which was formerly a Job Centre, will cover 3,000 sq ft of a vacant unit on the ground floor of Castle Chambers.
Plans for the site include a retail outlet, factory, education centre and a cafe, and total costs are estimated at £750,000, with a CrowdCube campaign being launched for the final £250,000. It will create 20 jobs upon completion.
The City of York Council received a planning application for the site in February 2017, and it was decided on last month.
Jewett said in a statement on the website: “I’m really excited to share with you our plans to bring fine chocolate making back to York. We have just collected the keys this last week for our new property at 10 Castlegate where we will be creating York Cocoa Works.
“It will be a chocolate production, education and development centre in the heart of York, just yards from the spot where Henry Isaac Rowntree started his Cocoa, Chocolate and Chicory business in the old Tuke store.
“Over the last 3 years we’ve been trialling recipes, ingredients and equipment and have met so many amazing chocolate lovers and experts who have helped us on our journey. Your input has helped us craft our vision and plan to create outstanding chocolate from fabulous cacao.
“We have lots of work to do still, and the team need to get on site to complete the fit-out. We hope this will be starting in September ready for us to be open in January 2018, just after Christmas.”
