Time to celebrate
Artisan chocolatier Davenport’s Chocolates is turning eight years old.
Davenport’s Chocolates is a busy artisan chocolatier nestled in a sleepy Pelaw industrial estate in Newcastle. With almost everything in the factory being made to order, there is not a moment’s peace for the team between now and Christmas – but they’re downing tools momentarily to celebrate a fantastic milestone: their eighth birthday.
Bridget Hamilton has been with Davenport’s since 2012, where her love of chocolate and marketing has proved a winning combination. “I came in over one summer whilst I was at University – supposedly for six weeks. I folded lots of boxes and probably ate more chocolates than I packed. Three years later and I’m still here!”
Over her tenure Bridget has had a chance to witness some of Davenport’s biggest achievements to date. “We have secured several great contracts with local businesses and bigger ones too. It’s a big deal to supply to Fenwick because their flagship store opened on our very own high street in Newcastle in 1882. It was also amazing to see us move into the new premises. It’s become quite a local talking point – ‘Eee, did you know there’s chocolate factory just behind the train station in Pelaw?’”
Other notable highlights include: inheriting a 25-foot, traditional 1950s enrobing machine and conveyor belt and exporting goods as far as China. Despite their international popularity, the team are passionate about sourcing ingredients locally as well as supplying to the raft of fantastic food outlets in Newcastle. ‘We love local, and we love handmade,” Bridget says. “Our milk and cream arrives from a local dairy every Friday, and the sprinkles on our truffles ourselves, and that’s how we’ll always do it.”
