2 days ago
Influencer sparks 'stratospheric' national demand for new chocolate bars
THE owner of a much-loved Carlisle chocolate shop has thanked his 'fantastic' local support after a decadent new range of chocolate bars grabbed national attention.
Chocolatier Keith Tattersall, founder of Castle Chocolates on Fisher Street, has promised local customers they remain his 'number one priority' as online sales of his new range of deep-filled bars went 'into the stratosphere'.
All of Castle Chocolates' products are handmade on the Fisher Street premises.
Varieties of the deep-filled bars, which retail at £6.95, are Caramel Shortbread, Dubai, Biscoff, Double Decker, and Hazelnut.
A Cookies and Cream version hasn't been made since week one, said Keith, due to difficulties sourcing some ingredients.
Since launching the range of bars around five weeks ago, online stock has been selling out often within minutes of its twice-weekly online release (4pm Tuesdays and Thursdays), and Keith said he and his team are working 'round the clock' to keep up with soaring demand.
"The locals supported us from day one", said Keith.
"So we want to do the same in a situation like this where everyone nationally wants the bars, we've got to prioritise having that stock in store."
Keith said orders are coming in from every corner of the UK since the bars were championed in a video released on the Northern Nic's Back Kitchen social media channel, which has over 200,000 Facebook followers.
"She's doing wonders for promoting local businesses and getting them national recognition, as we have so many amazing artisan producers here in Cumbria", Keith said.
"I'm just one of them and she's been helping all of us out.
"We've got a great following, and hopefully a great product, which a lot of people have tried and passed on the word locally.
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"She's helped something that was going brilliantly, into the stratosphere."
Keith said that the demand for the Dubai variety in particular has been 'crazy' but sales of the rest of his handmade chocolates have risen thanks to increased media attention brought by his new range.
The original range of six deep-filled bars (Image: Castle Chocolates)He said: "People are coming into the shop and buying all of the other products that we sell as well, it's brilliant to see that level of support from local people."
He also gave 'huge thanks' to his staff who have 'really pulled their weight, doing extra hours and helping out wherever they can'.
Asked whether he had any other creations in the pipeline, Keith said: "We had ideas to bring out other flavours, maybe a dark chocolate filled bar, but at the moment, we're just trying to get on top of current demand."
