Wood Row Chocolate's flavour and artistry helps business venture take off
A couple have seen their new eye-catching chocolate business blossom after taking a leap of faith in launching the venture.
Wood Row Chocolate, which is owned and run by Diss couple Jessie Forbes and Simon Woodrow, both 37, has been run as an online business from the couple’s Diss home since the pair started the business in March.
It blends Simon’s 20 years of experience working at the Leaping Hare restaurant at Wyken Vineyards, where the couple met, with Jessie’s artistic flair.
“Jessie is great at art, and she has always loved using those skills,” said Simon.
“We decided early on that the visuals should be important, but flavour is essential and that’s also at the forefront of what we do.
“We started in March and were feeling our way through it at first, doing research and reading recipe books and then working by trial and error.
“We also found the heatwave challenging, and discovered that we really can’t bring the products out to a market when it’s more than 32 degrees.
“But it’s amazing that we have something we’re creating together and we are glad we took the leap of faith.”
Simon and Jessie have updated their menu three times since starting their chocolate enterprise, and model some of their recipes on traditional deserts, such as blackberry cheesecake, lime meringue and pear and apple crumble.
Cocoa butter with colour pigmentation is used to create the designs, with each chocolate hand crafted and painted.
“We currently make everything in our own converted chocolate crafting room at home,” said Simon.
“We may need to move in to a bigger space in future though, because things have really taken off recently as everyone places orders for Christmas.
“Each batch takes two days to make and the orders are relentless.
“It’s hard work, but we give every order our time and care and that will always be how we work.”