Award-winning chocolate manufacturer, The Chocolate Smiths, welcomed Karen Clark, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, and Angela Tuplin, Chair of the North Tyneside Business Forum, to its factory in North Shields to celebrate its remarkable achievements.
The visit comes after The Chocolate Smiths secured two major accolades at the North Tyneside Business Awards, including the prestigious Business of the Year and Green Award.
Mayor Karen Clarke described her visit as “absolutely fantastic,” highlighting the unique atmosphere of the factory.
“From the moment you walk in, the smell is incredible,” she said. “The whole concept – from the designs to the packaging – feels like stepping into a real-life Willy Wonka chocolate factory.”
She also praised the company’s global reach, with products shipped worldwide from its North Tyneside base.
“It makes me feel extremely proud,” she added. “The way they incorporate iconic North East imagery into their chocolate design really instils pride in place. To see that shared across the world is truly impressive.”
Angela Tuplin echoed this sentiment, saying the visit reinforced why the company was named Business of the Year.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” she said. “From humble beginnings making chocolates at home to becoming a globally recognised brand, their journey is inspiring. Their commitment to sustainability and innovation makes them stand out.”
Managing Director Steffi Smith reflected on the company’s growth over the past 12 years.
“I started making chocolate in my kitchen, producing around 30 bars at a time and selling at Tynemouth Market,” she said. “Now we have a team of over 20 people, operate from an industrial unit, and ship our products all over the world.”
The Chocolate Smiths has built an international customer base, exporting across Europe and to every state in the USA – even fulfilling a festive order to the North Pole.
Despite its global success, the company is now looking to strengthen its local presence. A new shopfront is set to open soon offering customers the chance to experience the brand in person for the first time.
Sustainability remains a key focus for the business. Initiatives include significantly reducing food waste, recycling packaging materials, and repurposing cardboard from bulk deliveries into protective packing for online orders. The company continues to monitor its carbon footprint and improve efficiency across operations.
Steffi added: “We’re passionate about what we do and the people who work here. You spend most of your life at work, so it’s important that it’s purposeful and enjoyable. I’m incredibly proud of our team.”
The visit highlighted not only the success of The Chocolate Smiths but also the strength of North Tyneside’s business community, showcasing how local innovation can achieve global impact.
The North Tyneside Business Forum is run by a management group made up of members from various industry sectors in the Borough and gives support in the form of networking, events and signposting for growth and development. Membership is free and open to any business of any size with a trading address within North Tyneside. The Business Forum is supported by, but not run by North Tyneside Council.
The Forum is FREE to join and is for any business with a trading address in North Tyneside.
E: business.forum@northtyneside.gov.uk www.northtynesidebusinessforum.org.uk