Independent Sussex chocolatier Audrey’s enjoys golden Christmas performance
Audrey's in East Sussex, has posted record Christmas sales by the family who have taken on running the independent business. Pic: Audrey's
Traditional Sussex chocolatier, Audrey’s, has marked its most successful trading period, after delivering its highest-ever sales both online and in-store for the Brighton and Hove business, writes Neill Barston.
Believed to be the county’s longest-trading specialist chocolate business, which opened in 1948, has seen a whopping increase in its performance, as customers clamoured for their fair share of festive treats.
Notably, as the company revealed, its owners, husband and wife team Alice and Will Crone who took on the enterprise in 2024, have worked hard on has worked on revamping its brand identity.
Crucially, they have also switched to sustainable Valrhona chocolate and made the entire range palm oil–free, which has seen online sales triple, and shop sales also rise, despite a backdrop of challenging times for the wider sector, which has faced cocoa price rises, and consumer spending slowdown amid a stagnant broader economy.
However, Audrey’s has found itself in a particularly sweet spot, as it reported that its Christmas sales saw over 10,000 orders fulfilled, with 6,700 placed online, up from 1,600 the previous year – representing a fourfold increase year-on-year. The brand reached customers in 10 countries worldwide, signalling growing international demand for its handcrafted British chocolates.
Furthermore, as the company noted, in-store, Audrey’s welcomed over 3,000 customers through the doors of its Brighton & Hove shop during the festive run-up, while its team hand-produced and shipped an impressive 2,700 boxes of chocolate hedgehogs, one of the brand’s bestsellers.
Its history began in the late 40s, and became renowned for its handcrafted fondant creams, and was acquired in 2024 by husband-and-wife team. They have steered the company forward to a new level of growth that has respected its traditions.
Commenting on the record-breaking festive season, Alice Crone, Co-Owner of Audrey’s, enthused: “Christmas has always been incredibly important to Audrey’s, but this year felt truly special. From packing thousands of online orders to welcoming so many customers into the shop, the response has been overwhelming. It’s a real vote of confidence in what we’re building.”
The couple cited the partnership with Valrhona, which has become renowned for its ethical sourcing as a B Corp business, that the business owners felt was close to its own values on responsible indulgence.
Based in Holland Road, Brighton & Hove, since the 1950s, the shop has been considered a strong part of the community that has connected generations of customers with British chocolate making heritage.
“Audrey’s isn’t about chasing trends,” says Will Crone, Co-Owner of Audrey’s. “It’s about doing things properly – by hand, with care and intention. Reaching this milestone shows there’s a real appetite for British-made chocolate that balances heritage with modern values,” adding that the company is intending to grow its online presence further, along with potential for opening new stores for the business.
