The future is chocolatey for Paul Williams of Choc Amor in Mawdesley

Chocolates Turkish Charm and Bitter Orange were deemed worthy of Bronze awards at the International Chocolate Awards 2017 in London.

Husband and wife team Paul and Jacqui Williams, of Choc Amor at Cedar Farm in Mawdesley, are the couple behind the tasty entries.

Paul, 47, said: “We are absolutely delighted to get not only four awards in the British Championships for our flavoured chocolate but to also win a coveted World Award for two of those products. This now takes our total number of awards won this year to 11 and the overall total to 28.

“It’s a real honour as we are in a very small minority of British World Winners - only 10 UK companies won a world award this year.

“The International Chocolate Awards is affirmation that we are producing a quality product and helps establish us as one of Lancashire’s premier award-winning chocolatiers.”

Judges at the awards included a wide range of experts, tasters, pastry chefs, food journalists, bloggers and chefs.

This year saw over 2,000 entries from around the world with only 245 Gold, Silver and Bronze awards presented.

Paul and Jacqui have come a long way since they established Choc Amor in 2012.

Paul had been made redundant in the financial crash of 2007–2008 and faced an uncertain future until he fell upon the idea of going into the artisan chocolate market.

Jacqui, 50, said: “Paul was in commercial finance for most of his working life. He was made redundant at the height of the crisis and was spent 12 months hunting for work.

“He started thinking about doing something completely different, he’s always had a passion for food.

“Just by chance he was reading an article about how the artisan chocolate market was virtually recession proof so he did a course and just fell in love with it.”

From making their chocolate in their kitchen at home to a unit at Botany Bay, food fairs and a cafe, the Williams’ business has grown.

The duo are now based at Cedar Farm, with a fully equipped manufacturing studio and a retail shop which is stocked with their complete range of award-winning chocolates.