Exclusive: Paul A Young confirms closure of pioneering UK chocolate business
Renowned UK chocolatier Paul A Young has revealed that he is set to close his chocolate store business after more than 17 years of building the company’s retail presence, reports Neill Barston.
The industry expert, who gained prominence featuring in BBC screen series, as well as becoming an author within the sector, took to Instagram (below) this week to confirm that he is shutting the doors of his London store, which he said was a personal decision surrounding the end of the lease on his Islington site.
“It’s sad to be closing, but it’s also exciting about the future,” notes Paul of the situation, as he explained that the business, which has specialised in the production of fresh luxury chocolates, had continued despite the major impact on the retail sector for more than two years during the pandemic.
He explained there were a number of factors that had influenced his decision, including major increases in business rents, as well as hikes in ingredients costs including chocolate and sugar, which have severely affected the confectionery trade around the world, making it significantly more expensive to trade as an independent company.
Speaking to Confectionery Production on the company’s final week of operating its site in Camden Passage, he added: “We’re still open this week, and if there’s any product left we will sell it online. We made the announcement that we’re closing yesterday, and have had a huge surge in sales. (see our previous exclusive video interview with Paul here).
“I have had over 600 messages on Instagram and fans from all round the world from fans, and there are some great memories there. Everyone has those fond memories of us for being around so long.
“There’s no reflecting just yet, as it’s a big job to be closing a business down, so there’s still a lot to do. We are still trying to keep stocks up so that they can have some of our chocolate over the next few days.
“I’ll still be in the industry, but just in a different way,” says Paul who explained he had particularly focused on building relationships across the industry, and is intent on finding a fresh challenge within the sector that he remains especially passionate about.
“It’s been incredible. When you’re in it, you don’t necessarily see all of your success of how you have influenced people. I hadn’t realised until yesterday in making our announcement to close, the influence I have had on other chocolatiers and chocolate companies around the world, as we started when there were no artisan chocolatiers about, 17 and a half years ago.
“For me, it’s bittersweet, as on reflection, I worked too hard, for too long. However, that allowed us to open more stores and reach further, innovate and train and employ lots of people, and do lots of exciting things through sheer hard work. That’s a decision that was made.
“Perhaps some people think that opening a chocolate shop is easy, but you have to sell hundreds of thousands of chocolates, and have multiple revenue streams, and do your PR and social media, networking and so on – there have been lots of high points, opening four stores, training great people to have their own businesses, and make a lot of people happy, but on the other side, it’s a sense of ‘why did you work so hard and get totally absorbed,” he added, noting that he intended to fully continue within the sector, most likely within a freelance consulting capacity.