When you think about the impact of the virus on pubs and beer festivals, you also think in turn of breweries and the likes of maltsters and hop farmers. The damage however spreads even further.
At the end of 2020, the Oddfellows Chocolate Company, one of the regular stallholders at many CAMRA beer festivals decided that they had no choice but to shut up shop. Founder Emily Flanagan, said, “Our wholesaler who we supplied bulk to every week stopped buying from us in April and, of course, we have lost all of the festivals which we relied heavily on, so we have had to let go of our rental unit and come home. Unfortunately, we cannot carry on.” Emily started the business back in 2010 when she became hooked after attending a specialist chocolate course. She reflected, “I started making truffles and chocolates for family and friends in my kitchen at home alongside my part time job. Word soon got around about my great flavours and before I knew it, I was spending all day, every day, making them.”
Husband Ian began helping Emily and they took stalls at a variety of events, from farmers’ markets to beer festivals. Emily was delighted to see how well her strong flavoured chocolates were going down and the business grew. In 2013 they moved into a small unit in Burton-on-Trent and took on staff.
The next big transformation came in 2015 when they changed their name from Merry Berry Truffles to the Oddfellows Chocolate Company. Emily explained, “We decided to change our name as it sounded too much like that famous baker (Mary Berry) to a name that best reflects who and what we are about today.” The change also provided an opportunity for a rebrand.
I have used their chocolate to pair with beer at many events in pubs and beer festivals, including the Great British Beer Festival, Ealing, Pig’s Ear and as far away as the Copenhagen Beer Festival. They were great quality chocolates and the variety of flavours made it easy to match them although Scorpion Death Chilli Chocolate could be a bit of a challenge. I, and many of their fans, will miss them. I am however delighted that, for their swansong, they will be supplying the virtual beer and chocolate event which I plan to hold at Easter. What better time is there for saying goodbye than at the time so traditionally associated with chocolate?
Christine Cryne