Description

I have more than 15 years’ experience of the chocolate industry; 12 of them spent running Amelia Rope Chocolate, my multi award-winning brand which I built single-handedly and from scratch. I understand the relentless challenge as well as the incredible opportunities. I have invaluable insights into what it takes to run your own business, grow it and maintain it. I learnt what worked and what really didn’t.

I sold my chocolate to Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges and Wholefoods (among others). Corporate clients included Eurostar (business class) and the Firmdale Hotel Group. My chocolate was also exported to Europe, Japan and the Middle East.

I’ve won awards along the way:

• Academy of Chocolate Awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze), Great Taste Awards, Great Taste Producer

• Luxury Law Summit’s Luxury Entrepreneur of the Year

• Evening Standard Power 1000 'Tastemaker'

TV approaches included: BBC's Dragons Den, Saturday Kitchen and The Apprentice.

And where did this all spring from? As a contestant on BBC MasterChef in 2006 & 2007.

Languages

English
Native or bilingual

Workplace preferences

Can work on-site

London (up to 50km)

Third Time Lucky Ltd
Food Brand Consultant
October 2022 - Today (3 years and 8 months)
London, UK
Creating a successful award-winning food brand was an incredible experience. It blew me away and still does now. Using years of incredible insight and, at times, tough lessons and strengthening others do the same is what drives me today. Areas of expertise:
●Brand creation and management
●Production especially outsourcing
●Strategy to expand listings (retailers and corporate clients)
●PR and marketing
●Supply chain management
●Launching international chocolate brands in the UK (marketing, PR, connections, operations)
3 Minutes Ltd
Founder
October 2019 - July 2022 (2 years and 9 months)
London, UK

●Brand creation of Hope & Patience podcast. Wrote and hosted three series, interviewing leading founders and entrepreneurs including Julian Metcalfe (Pret/Itsu), Laura Winningham OBE (City Harvest), Farah Kabi /Dr Sarah Welsh (HANX - sexual wellness) and Oliver Chittenden (Head Talks). Recorded in the studio and then remotely during lockdowns. Available on Apple, Amazon, Google and Spotify and www.hopeandpatience.co.uk
●Brand creation of Chocolate Adventures - an exploration of chocolate and chocolate makers around the world. Produced and wrote a podcast pilot with a view to developing it into a podcast show, TV, print and radio.
●Creating content for social media including Instagram Lives, website and newsletters.
Amelia Rope Chocolate Ltd
Founder
September 2007 - February 2020 (12 years and 5 months)
London, UK

●Built a multi award-winning premium UK and global chocolate brand from scratch.
●Developed all national and international PR and marketing including TV, radio, print and digital media. Attracted approaches from BBC Saturday Kitchen, The Apprentice and Channel 4 Sunday Brunch. Content creator for the social media, website and newsletters.
●Developed business strategy, prepared business plans and single-handedly pitched to potential investors raising £150k of investment.
●Generation and management of all sales (corporate, exports, retailers, private clients, online sales) including Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, Liberty, Selfridges, Wholefoods, Takashimaya -Tokyo, Berry Bros & Rudd Eurostar, the Firmdale Hotel Group.
●Oversaw a complex supply chain of several production units and more than 20 suppliers. Due diligence on suppliers including visits to cocoa plantations.
●Awards include: Academy of Chocolate Awards (Gold, Silver, Bronze), Great Taste Awards, Great Taste Producer, Luxury Law Summit's Luxury Entrepreneur of the Year and Evening Standard Power 1000 'Taste-Maker'.
●Publications include: The Telegraph 'Why Colombia Makes Some of the World's Best Chocolate' & 'Mauritius the 'Perfect Inspiration for a Chocolatier'.