For three years running, our friends at Honest Chocolat have worked with Forty Thieves to craft the most delicious Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Easter Eggs. On a quest to create a healthy yet delicious Easter treat, they have jam-packed organic, Fairtrade chocolate eggs with Forty Thieves Peanut Butter Crunchy, for a protein-packed treat.
We chatted to owners; asked Owners Nico and Emily; about the process and how they got started in the chocolate business.
Where did the idea of creating a boutique chocolate business stem from?
Nico’s background as a pastry chef and chocolatier meant we were looking to do something sweet and delicious for sure! We both LOVE good chocolate, and my background in design meant I could bring something to the business too.
What is your most popular product and why do you believe it is so successful?
Ooh that’s a tough one. It would probably have to be our dairy-free caramels. They are insanely good! They have the perfect chew and level of sweetness with dark chocolate. The salted caramel one is addictive!
Which personal values did you bring into the business, and why are they important to you?
Honesty! This relates to how we approach our product development. We use simple and high quality ingredients to create amazing tasting chocolates, always looking for the best way to showcase the chocolate flavour itself.
What has been one of your favourite moments in the business so far?
Being named Supreme Winner of the New Zealand Chocolate Awards 2017, for our Salted Caramel and Buckwheat Milk Chocolate Tablet.
You recently opened a new store in Auckland! How did opening this store differ from opening your first store in Matakana?
Our Auckland store opened as part of the Commercial Bay development so there were so many factors that were outside of our control with this one. And the opening was a much more grand affair because of the hype and location. The opening ended up being delayed by the first lockdown last year which wasn’t the best start! The Matakana store was a much quieter opening, and involved us rolling our sleeves up a lot more and being part of the fit-out. We have fond memories of late nights painting the shop with very generous friends lending a hand, and hanging that wallpaper on the ceiling!
Have there been any challenges along the way? How have you managed to solve them?
Lots, as any small business owner, will know! The biggest probably being COVID, and opening a new store in Auckland City Centre during this time. It has meant we’ve had to change our business plan and focus for the business for a while.
Where does the inspiration usually come from when creating a new product?
Our own personal tastes usually! Our most recent limited edition bonbon we’ve made is rhubarb and custard. We had a huge amount of rhubarb growing in our garden, so that was the inspiration for this on.
How does creating these Easter Eggs with Forty Thieves differ from your usual creations?
We love collaborating with other brands and bringing something different to what we do. Our other filled eggs have marshmallow or salted caramel ganache inside them and are individually hand-decorated. The peanut butter eggs are left plain with no food colouring and filled with soft crunchy peanut butter and dark chocolate. So moreish!!
Which is your favourite Forty Thieves nut butter?
Almond Butter Smooth. My 2-year-old son and I love it mixed into our porridge for breakfast!
