Chocolates of Glenshiel celebrates 10 years - how a teenager turned love of baking into successful business
A Highland chocolate business, founded by a teenager, will turn 10 years old this month.
Chocolates of Glenshiel celebrates its ten-year anniversary on 8 June, marking a decade of remarkable growth for the Highland-based chocolate business founded by entrepreneur Finlay Macdonald when he was just 16 years old.
What began in 2016 as a small passion project in the kitchen of his family home has developed into one of Scotland’s recognised artisan chocolate brands, supplying customers and stockists across the UK and continuing to experience growth year-on-year.
Having started the company with one single employee, Finlay, doing everything on his own, Chocolates of Glenshiel now employs 23 dedicated team members in the Kyle area.
What started as a business selling bread in his local school turned into chocolate making after Mr Macdonald undertook work experience in Dorset and met a woman who was opening a chocolate shop. He fell in love with the craft and taught himself how to make chocolates.
Speaking to the BBC he said: "With each year I got better at it, and learned through trial and error what worked and what didn't work, both with creating different flavours and the temper of chocolate."
From modest beginnings and a love of baking with his Granny, Finlay built the company around a commitment to high quality handmade chocolates, carefully sourced local ingredients and distinctive Scottish flavours such as a dark chocolate filled with Dundee marmalade and chocolate with Isle of Skye sea salt.
Over the past ten years, the business has steadily expanded its customer base, product range and production capabilities whilst maintaining its artisan roots. This year, the business underwent a rebrand, launched in April, with improved packaging for their filled chocolate selection and hot chocolate range.
Now, as Chocolates of Glenshiel moves into its tenth year of business, it prepares to celebrate another major milestone – reaching £1 million annual turnover for the first time.
To support continued growth for another decade, significant investment has been made in a larger production unit in Glenshiel providing increased manufacturing capacity, enhanced facilities and greater scope for product development and innovation. Additionally, the old production kitchen will be knocked into the existing visitor centre to provide additional seating for the café and space for the gift shop.
Founder Finlay Macdonald said: “When I started Chocolates of Glenshiel at the age of 16 I could never have imagined how far the business would come over the next decade.
“What started with teaching myself how to make chocolates in my parents’ kitchen and selling them to friends and neighbours has grown year after year thanks to the incredible support from our customers, stockists and local community.
“Reaching our 10th birthday whilst approaching £1 million turnover and employing 23 fantastic team members who share my love of the Highlands, Scottish food and drink and most importantly, good chocolate is a real dream come true. I am so thankful for how far we’ve come and very excited to see where we go next!”
This expansion comes after Mr Macdonald relaunched his business after a successful Crowdfunding campaign in 2018, which meant that an investment was made to production meaning the team could produce 2,400 boxes of chocolates per month. Speaking at the time of this relaunch, Mr Macdonald said: “ The crowdfunding means we have been able to invest in our production, so we can produce over 2,400 boxes of chocolates per month. We now provide work for three young people from the Highland region. We have a passion to support local business in the ingredients we use such as Isle of Skye Sea Salt and Misty Isle Gin, to help promote growth in the Highland economy.”
Anniversary celebrations are planned for 8 June both in the store in Glenshiel and on the company’s website.
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