Wickedly Welsh Chocolate facts for kids
Wickedly Welsh Chocolate is a special chocolate factory located in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. They make their own delicious chocolate right there at the factory. You can find their tasty treats in about 25 stores nearby, including places like Oakwood Theme Park.
The Story of Wickedly Welsh Chocolate
How It All Began
The factory was started by a person named Mark Owen in April 2014. Mark has type 1 diabetes, which means his body needs help to control sugar levels. Because of this, many of the chocolates they make are suitable for people with diabetes.
The company creates many different kinds of chocolates. One special type is high in flavanols. These are natural plant compounds found in cocoa that can be good for you.
Mark's wife, Karen, had worked at a chocolate farm nearby called Pemberton's Chocolate Farm. She knew a lot about the machines needed to make chocolate. Mark and Karen tried to buy that farm, but it didn't work out. So, they decided to open their own factory instead!
Growing and Sharing Chocolate Fun
In the first eight months after opening, about 20,000 people visited the factory. However, because the company started making so much more chocolate, the old Visitors Centre and café are now closed for good.
The company sends out a regular email newsletter to about 15,000 people. This newsletter shares fun ideas for recipes using chocolate. The local Member of Parliament (MP), Stephen Crabb, has praised the factory. He called it "a fantastic addition to Pembrokeshire's tourism offer."
Wickedly Welsh Chocolate often has special promotions for holidays. These include Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Halloween. They even had a "Golden Ticket" campaign, like in the Willy Wonka story. Winners received tickets for both the factory and Oakwood Theme Park. For Easter in 2015, the factory worked with Wales Online to offer a special VIP tour as a competition prize.
