MEDIA RELEASE – OCTOBER 12, 2022
If you love chocolate and you’re looking for your first job or a sweet career change, The Margaret River Chocolate Company is looking for a chocolatier for its Swan Valley outlet.
This is a rare opportunity for an inexperienced but highly motivated chocolate lover to join the chocolate factory team and learn how to become a chocolatier.
The full-time job offers a flexible 38 hour week, no night shifts and a fun and friendly retail/tourism environment.
And the best part is – eating the chocolate is an essential part of this job.
The company is ideally looking for someone local to fill the role and while previous food skills would be helpful, they are not essential.
The company is also looking for a full-time cook to work in its chocolate café, where once again tasting the food and chocolate is all part of the job.
Anyone interested can contact the company at gemma@chocolatefactory.com.au
MEDIA RELEASE – AUGUST 9, 2022
If you’re vegan and love your chocolate The Margaret River Chocolate Company has got you covered.
After a trial batch of vegan milk chocolate sold out in days, the company has now introduced the super tasty vegan option to its range permanently.
Made with rice powder, as opposed to milk powder, the chocolate tastes just as good as the company’s award-winning, premium milk chocolate.
Company co-founder Martin Black said there had been increasing demand for vegan milk chocolate, sugar free chocolate and other products catering to specific dietary requirements.
“A recent international study in Australia, the US and Europe found that 60% of millennials and Gen Z consumers expected major food brands to offer plant based alternatives as part of their range,” Mr Black said.
“Milk chocolate was the product that the vegans surveyed missed the most, after cheese and eggs.”
Mr Black said the key to creating good quality alternatives was to ensure the “mouth feel” and flavour profiles were consistent with the regular product range.
The new milk vegan chocolate is available from all three of the company’s outlets and online at www.chocolatefactory.com.au
For further information please contact Martin Black on 0407753043.
MEDIA RELEASE – JULY 2, 2022
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has again been the dominant local exhibitor at the Perth Royal Chocolate Awards with its innovative flavours and artisan craftsmanship capturing the judges’ attention and securing two Champion Chocolate Awards and almost 20 medals.
Some of the company’s innovative truffle entries this year included combinations of Coffee & Cardamon, Whisky & Blood Orange and Cherry/Sherry, as well as more mainstream offerings such as Espresso Martini and Banana/Banoffee truffles.
It’s Juicy Prune truffle also performed well with a gold medal as did its new Ord River Dried & Salted Chickpea Bar.
Similarly some of its bars and individual dipped chocolates included creations like Caramel and Miso, Cajun Spiced Peanut, Raspberry & Macadamia, Vanilla Chai, Parmesan Biscuit and a Smores bar.
The company also entered a couple of vegan chocolates this year, reflecting the evolving nature of customer tastes and expectations.
The Perth Royal Chocolate Awards are held each year to recognise the creativity of boutique chocolate makers from around Australia.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company spokesman Martin Black said the company was always striving to create new flavour pairings and innovative new products where creativity, quality and customer experience were paramount.
“Each year competitions like this give our chocolatiers an opportunity to display their skills and creativity as well as have some fun,” Mr Black said.
“They also get to work with some of the newer chocolate varieties like single origins, ruby and the vegan chocolates which have become very popular.”
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For further information please contact Martin Black on 0407753043.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has been creating mouthwatering, handmade and award winning chocolate products since 1999. The original Margaret River factory is located on a picturesque rural property just 20 minutes from both Margaret River and Busselton. The company’s second factory is located in the heart of Perth’s historic Swan Valley, just 20 minutes from the Perth CBD. Both locations provide a fascinating insight into the world of chocolate, with visitors treated to free chocolate tastings, interactive displays, viewing windows to watch the chocolate products being made and a friendly, holiday atmosphere. Both also include a chocolate cafe for casual indoor and outdoor dining. The Margaret River Chocolate Company also brings a taste of Margaret River to the city on Murray Street in the heart of Perth’s CBD, combining hundreds of delicious, award-winning chocolate products with a range of gourmet products and homewares from sister company, Margaret River Providore.
Media Release 26 June 2021
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has again been a stand-out performer at the Perth Royal Chocolate Awards with its innovative flavours and artisan craftsmanship capturing the judges’ attention and securing two Champion Chocolate Awards and almost 20 medals.
Orange & Saffron, Sticky Fig & Muscat, Quince & Parmesan, Tumeric, Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble and Pecan & Caramel were just some of the creative flavour combinations to win medals, as well as more traditional flavours like peppermint crème, rice bubbles and mandarin and burnt toffee.
A Fruit Tingle truffle also brought a nostalgic feel to the awards.
The company’s two Champion Chocolates were a sensational Strawberry gourmet bar in the coveted Champion Milk Chocolate category and a Cranberry & Pistachio Bar in the new Champion Ruby Chocolate category.
The Perth Royal Chocolate Awards are held each year to recognise the creativity of boutique chocolate makers from around Australia and this year there were seven different companies receiving awards.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company spokesman Martin Black said the company was always striving to create new flavour pairings and innovative new products where creativity, quality and customer experience were paramount.
“Each year competitions like this give our chocolatiers an opportunity to display their skills and creativity as well as have some fun,” Mr Black said.
“They also create new products to add to our range with the new Strawberry Gourmet bar and the Orange Saffron and Pecan & Caramel truffles all going straight into production.”
Media Release May 26, 2021
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has launched its third initiative to help save Western Australia’s critically endangered species with a brand new chocolate numbat now for sale to raise funds for their conservation.
There are estimated to be less than 1,000 mature numbats in the wild.
Raising funds for not-for-profit group Project Numbat Incorporated (‘Project Numbat’), the as-yet-unnamed chocolate numbat will join “Swampy” the western swamp tortoise and “Chokka the Quokka” – which have raised tens of thousands of dollars for conservation and research projects.
Part proceeds from the sale of “Swampy” and “Chokka” packs go to the Friends of the Western Swamp Tortoise and Rottnest Foundation respectively, and the same fundraising will apply to numbat sales funding Project Numbat.
For the first time The Margaret River Chocolate Company will also be seeking public input on a name for the numbat, with the person who provides the chosen name winning a $500 chocolate hamper.
“We are the single largest private funders of both western swamp tortoise and quokka conservation and research projects in WA and we want to be able to do the same for our endangered state fauna emblem,” company spokesman Martin Black said.
“As part of our commitment we also promote the organisations supporting these unique, Western Australian species by distributing newsletters, raising profile and we even have a giant, western swamp tortoise sculpture at our Swan Valley factory.”
Project Numbat President, Justin Mulhair, said the organisation was delighted to be collaborating with The Margaret River Chocolate Company to raise funds and awareness to support the ongoing conservation of the numbat.
“We are very excited to partner with The Margaret River Chocolate Company,” Mr Mulhair said.
“The Margaret River Chocolate Company has been supporting a wide range of community and charitable organisations throughout Western Australia for more than 20 years including partnerships in the areas of conservation and research of local endangered fauna.
“This support has been very important to these organisations in enabling them to further their conservations efforts.
“We are pleased to now have a similar arrangement with The Margaret River Chocolate Company to further promote community awareness and conservation efforts of the numbat.”
Media Release April 13, 2021
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has unveiled a brand new look at its flagship Margaret River factory, and plans to have the whole company carbon neutral in just four years.
The once-striking facade of the 22 year old building has now been clad with native hardwood timber of the region – rough-sawn Western Australian jarrah – which not only refreshes its look but also doubles the façade’s thermal resistance and insulating properties.
Its new thermally-efficient, natural exoskeleton is one of a suite of energy efficient innovations being unveiled by the company to make its flagship headquarters and entire operations carbon neutral by 2025.
The company’s Swan Valley factory already features a 100kw solar power installation on its expansive roof and the company continues to plant more than 1000 native Australian eucalyptus trees on its Wilyabrup property in the Margaret River region every year.
Other initiatives in the move towards carbon neutrality include two state-of-the-art solar powered Biomass water treatment plants that filter, purify and cleanse all of the company’s wastewater in the Swan Valley. The result is crystal clear water that is reused on the gardens, while in Wilyabrup water is collected from the property in winter for use in summer and is transferred around the property using zero emissions power from a tracking solar array.
Media Release March 25, 2021
As Easter rapidly approaches, The Margaret River Chocolate Company is continuing its support for WA’s endangered species with special Easter Chokka the Quokka ($24.95) and packs of choc Western Swamp Tortoises ($16.95).
The company sells its Chokka the Quokka as a uniquely Western Australian Easter alternative to raise additional funds for quokka conservation and research.
Part proceeds from every large Chokka the Quokka and Chokka giftpack sold are already donated to the Rottnest Foundation – making it the single largest private funder of quokka conservation projects.
This year The Margaret River Chocolate Company has also introduced ‘Bunnysaurus’ – a giant chocolate Easter rabbit that weighs in at more than 4.5kg and is 72cm tall ($195), as well as the usual range of giant bunnies, freckled eggs, redgum honey crunch eggs, sugar free eggs and bilbies and special hot-cross bun truffles.
In addition to its special Easter Quokkas and Western Swamp Tortoises, the 20-plus year tradition of visits from the Easter Bunny will be continued, along with Easter Egg hunts and a broad range of more traditional Easter products including new ‘marching bunnies’.
Both of the company’s factories in the Swan Valley and Margaret River are open every day over Easter, including Good Friday, while the Perth city store is open Easter Thursday and again on Easter Saturday.
There will be plenty of giveaways and the usual free chocolate tastings.
Media Release November 28, 2020
The Margaret River Chocolate Company has unveiled a range of new products in time for Christmas to put a little cheer into its city store for the year of COVID.
It has also created a stunning new “golden” Xmas window display for the festive season.
The new products include chocolate Santa lollipops, chocolate gingerbread men, assorted Christmas baubles and reindeer and a special Christmas cake made in-house.
The company’s ever-popular Christmas truffles are also back as well as a range of special Christmas hampers that are being prepared for individual purchase and corporate orders.
This year the company is also alerting those who plan to order on-line, rather than shopping in store, that delays with Australia Post will mean most interstate gifts will need to be shipped by the beginning of December at the latest.
“A lot of customers have been shipping hampers to Melbourne for themselves or friends in lock-down and some delivery times have been at least two weeks longer than usual,” company spokesman Martin Black said.
“We expect that to get even worse as we approach Christmas so if people are planning on sending some Christmas cheer through our online store, it’s best to order now.
“Alternatively people can shop in our Perth city store or at our Margaret River and Swan Valley factories, which are open every day of the year except Christmas Day.”
The company’s festive hampers range in price from just $19.95 through to $179.95 for a massive Deluxe Christmas Hamper or customers can design their own hampers.
The company’s mouth-watering Xmas pudding truffles sell individually or in a pack of 10 ($24.95), Santas on a bed of chocolate will sell for $22.95, bite sixed chocolate gingerbread men for $19.95 and the individual Santa choc-pops for $2.95.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company range of hampers and hundreds of other gift ideas are available at both factories in Margaret River and the Swan Valley and at the city store at 317 Murray Street, Perth.
September 1 – 30, 2020
‘Where’s Chokka?’ is a self-guided activity that is part of the 2020 Quokka Birthday celebrations. It’s a joint promotion between the Rottnest Island Authority and Margaret River Chocolate Company.
Visitors to Rottnest Island can join Chokka the Quokka and his Rottnest Island friends in a game of hide and seek. Six giant versions of the blue Chokka the Quokka canisters are been hidden around the Island and visitors can follow clues to various locations to find them.
Follow the clues around the Island and every time you find them enter the codeword online for your chance to win exclusive behind the scenes experiences on Rottnest Island and the Margaret River Chocolate Company.
Who is Chokka the Quokka? Chokka is a Margaret River Chocolate Company product available in various sizes, including a 250g version that is presented in a blue cylinder. Part proceeds from the sale of each chocolate quokka are donated to the Rottnest Foundation to support Quokka conservation and research.
There are two major prizes up for grabs. One is a behind the scenes Rottnest Island night wildlife experience for four people, and the other one is a Margaret River Chocolate Company apprentice chocolatier experience for four people.
This year, instead of loading up on cheap, poor quality chocolate, how about choosing less but better? If you need convincing, how about this: more expensive chocolate is typically better for you as it is made from organic, top quality ingredients. To help you choose some artisan product we’ve gone inside three leading chocolatiers from around the globe. Take your pick!
A former bank is the new home of the Margaret River Chocolate Company in Perth, Western Australia. Not only does the store showcase and sell the company’s expansive range of colourfully packaged chocolates handcrafted from Belgian couverture, but the team also provide bottomless tastings. In fact, the company recently crunched the sums and realised it gives away more than $300,000.00 of chocolate to the one million people who visit its three stores each year!
With Japanese design firm Wonderwall at its helm, the finished design of 100% Chocolate Cafe wasn’t going to be anything but impressive. Running above the communal table is a dark-wood carved ceiling, shaped just like a block of chocolate! Meantime, visitors can watch chocolate being created in the grand, open kitchen, then take their pick from the 56 different varieties in the cabinet, each with their own colour code. A stand out feature of this chocolatier is the view from the street, with the huge floor to ceiling windows just tempting passers-by to step in.
Renowned for its macarons, Laudree delighted fans when it opened its first chocolate boutique in Paris. Expanding on its traditional offering of macarons,”Les Marquis de Ladurée” is a new Laudree sub-brand devoted entirely to chocolate. Positioned near the Tuileries Gardens in Paris, the interior is intricate and old-worldly, with the walls decorated in Acanthus stucco leaves, and the ceiling embellished with a stucco garland and decorated with Murano chandeliers. White Carrara marble fronts the counter and is adorned with ‘marquis’ medallions.
Media Release February 5, 2019
As part of its 20th Birthday celebrations, The Margaret River Chocolate Company has created a fun, new social media competition to raise funds and spread awareness for quokka conservation and research.
The competition named ‘My Chokka Selfie’ is based around the company’s chocolate quokka character ‘Chokka The Quokka’.
To enter the competition people post a fun, creative picture on Instagram or Facebook with their Chokka the Quokka or Chokka t-shirt and use of the hashtag #mychokkaselfie.
Each month a $500 chocolate gift voucher will be awarded to the selfie with the most impact.
In 2016 The Margaret River Chocolate Company launched a major partnership with The Rottnest Foundation and Rottnest Island Authority to fund ongoing quokka conservation and research.
Over a 12-month period, The Margaret River Chocolate Company designed a chocolate mould for the unique and endangered marsupial and then worked with the Rottnest Island Authority to look at how funds from the sale of chocolate quokkas could be used to ensure their long term future.
The #mychokkaselfie campaign has already been embraced by celebrities like world kite-surfing champion Guy Bridge, Australian singer-songwriter G Flip and Margaret River chef Aaron Carr, as well as key social media influencers like Perth Happenings, Out and About Perth and Hello Perth.
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