Blog

Alicia Chapman is a professional chef with a passion for creating unique and delicious chocolates. A stint in Germany sparked her inspiration to delve into the art of producing premium chocolates, ultimately leading her to start her own venture, Little Cocoa. With her devotion to creating bespoke premium chocolates, Alicia has successfully established her brand, creating visually stunning artisanal chocolates that have captured the hearts (and tastebuds) of her customers.

1. Can you tell us about the moment you first realised you wanted to start your own chocolate making business?

I am a chef and pastry chef by trade and I always worked with chocolate in my jobs but never exclusively. I was living overseas in Germany working in a bakery when I discovered a small bean-to-bar chocolate shop that was creating incredible chocolates with such unique tastes. I was so inspired by what they were doing that I came back home to the Gold Coast and was able to start up Little Cocoa but with a focus on premium bespoke chocolates.

.    

2. Starting and running a business can be a wild ride! What challenges have you faced while building your business and how have you overcome them?

There's so many things you need to learn to successfully run a business. Working in kitchens, you tend to always be a 'behind the scenes' person. I realised very quickly that I had to step up and network, put myself out there, cold call, figure out marketing, sales etc. My skills were in food, not in business so it's been a steep learning curve since day one and everyday I'm pushing myself to learn more and be better.

3. What has operating your own business meant for you personally?

Running my own business has been the biggest lesson in personal growth as you are constantly learning, developing and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

4. Can you explain the advantages of incorporating chocolate transfers into your work as a chocolate artist?

Using chocolate transfers in my work is a key part in separating Little Cocoa from other chocolate businesses. Having the flexibility to create one-of-a-kind designs in-house means that I can offer incredibly unique chocolates to my clients and I can work quickly. The great thing is that it's only limited by our imagination. I love it when customers come to me and ask if I can somehow incorporate their brand/message/industry/graphics into the chocolate, typically I will suggest doing a print transfer as it yields great results.

5. We’re curious, what is your favourite chocolate creation to work on?

I really enjoy working on our custom chocolates as it takes some creative thinking and problem solving to figure out. One year we created a chocolate pirate map for a corporate customer - it was presented in a white gift box, the chocolate sat in a die-cut foam insert and underneath the map (once the recipient lifted the map out) they would discover 'gold' chocolate treasure.

6.What are some of the latest and greatest trends in the world of chocolate making you're seeing?

There's certainly a trend towards ethically and sustainably sourced chocolate, but soon enough this will be the norm in my opinion. I also see very creative chocolate designs, lots of colour and interesting shapes. I think chocolate gifts have come a long way from the 'traditional box of chocolates’.

7. Have you received any wild or wacky requests that still make you smile? Do tell!

Cars, golf balls, horseshoe, pirate maps, tennis balls, nuts and bolts. I find that people who reach out to me are after a way to really wow and delight their clients, speakers, sponsors, etc. They're looking for a chocolate that will seriously grab people's attention, I love that we can help bring their ideas to life.

8. Can you share some of your pro tips for printing and applying chocolate transfer sheets effectively?

Taking care of the printer is a priority to get the best printing results - this involves regular cleaning and maintenance. It's also important to make sure that the chocolate is well tempered and you are applying the chocolate at the higher end of the tempered range to ensure it gives a glossy shine on the finished product.

9. Self-care is crucial! How do you ensure that you're taking care of yourself while also running your business?

Exercise is a great way to de-stress and to reset after a big day or week at work and I find that a combination of pilates and park run does the trick for me.

10. What career achievement are you most proud of and why does it hold a special place in your heart?

I think that I am most proud of my determination and drive to keep going and to push myself with this business. As an example, I've had a few public speaking arrangements for my business over the years. Rather than being terrified of speaking in front of a group, I decided in 2022 that I would tackle that fear and join a Toastmasters group to develop my confidence in that area. I'm always so proud of myself for taking that leap of faith and jumping into the scary and unknown.