Winter warmers from Hames Chocolates offer festive cheer

Some added festive warmth is being brought to the market from UK-based private label firm Hames Chocolates, as it extends its indulgent series of Hot Chocolate Stirrers, Bombes and chocolate pouches, amid a key upturn in its trading, writes Neill Barston.
As the Lincolnshire-based business explained to Confectionery Production, its have increased significantly, by 260% despite a challenging backdrop of supply chain challenges and inflation costs, which have impacted on confectionery markets within the UK and around the world.
The company’s latest series has been developed for multiple and high street retailers, tourism, and leisure operators, as well as specialist chocolate shops and gifting – Hames Chocolates is also offering retailers, customer-branded (private label) hot chocolate pouches, for orders over 1,000 units.
Carol Oldbury, Director of Hames Chocolates, said: “Now the weather has turned colder, we are urging retailers to stock up on our hot chocolate range to make sure they can meet consumer demand,
“Despite the current pressures on spending, shoppers are happy to pay the extra for premium quality hot chocolate product, which is why we have seen such a fantastic increase in sales of our real hot chocolate flakes[i]. Traditional hot chocolate, made with milk chocolate, is doing extremely well, whilst premium flavours, such as milk orange and Irish cream have helped to increase sales in the run up to the festive period. And with Christmas coming up, our Hot Chocolate products also make the perfect gift.”
The new additions to Hames Chocolates’ hot chocolate range include: A Very Woolly Christmas Milk Hot Chocolate Spoons (35g) – comes with a themed swing tag and a red twist tie bow, with flavours including Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Mince Pie Flavouring, Milk Chocolate With Salted Caramel Flavouring.
There’s a Festive Stag Milk Hot Chocolate Stirrer (35g) – comes with a red twist tie bow and contemporary festive swing tag, with flavours including Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Irish Cream Flavouring, Milk Chocolate With Salted Caramel Flavouring. Its hot chocolate series includes Hot Chocolate Bombes in a variety of flavours (including White Chocolate and Strawberry, Milk Chocolate with Hazelnut and Dark Chocolate) – available in an outer of 12, Hot Chocolate Pouches Range includes, -Hot Chocolate pouches (115g) in a variety of flavours including Milk Chocolate with Orange and Dark Chocolate with Peppermint.