A pair of talented young entrepreneurs, who produce luxury, craft chocolate from a tiny workshop in South Lanarkshire, are today enjoying the sweet taste of success.
That's after they won £50,000 in a competition to identify Scotland’s up-and-coming business elite.
Bare Bones Chocolate – the brainchild of 28-year-olds Lara Messer and Cameron Dixon – claimed the prize at Tuesday night’s final of the Scottish EDGE Awards.
The annual competition applauds innovative businesses with high-growth potential, and rewards winners with a cash award, split on a grant/loan basis.
The big win will allow directors Lara and Cameron – who are proud to be one of the UK’s few chocolate producers who craft from bean to bar – to expand their business and move from the 200 sq ft workshop they have occupied for the past year in Rutherglen into bigger premises.
Lara and Cameron proved to the judges they 'have the edge' by demonstrating in their application and three-minute video presentation an impressive value proposition, entrepreneurial spirit, business growth potential, customer focus, effective utilisation of funding, and market impact.
The former London-based food photographer and mechanical engineer walked away from successful careers to launch Bare Bones Chocolate from Lara’s parents’ garage in the village of Eaglesham.
There, they began hand-crafting luxury chocolate from the best raw cacao beans sourced from rare origins around the world.
Bare Bones Chocolate bars are wrapped by hand in Vegware compostable sheets and sealed with a signature ‘Handcrafted in Glasgow’ label.
Their boxes – which are made from recycled coffee cups – are also labelled, stamped and folded by hand and packed in recycled and compostable materials.
Not only did the pair win £10,000 in last year’s Young EDGE contest, their bars have also clinched a coveted gold and four silver awards from the prestigious Academy of Chocolate.
Their share of this year’s Scottish Edge prize pot of over £1m will not only help them realise their dreams of occupying larger premises, it will also enable Lara and Cameron to hire new recruits.
In addition to their cash prize, the pair will also receive invaluable, on-going mentoring support and advice from Scottish EDGE to help them achieve the growth potential of their brand.
As news of the £50,000 award sank in, Lara told Lanarkshire Live : “It is really hard to process.
"I couldn’t believe it. I was crying my eyes out.
“We have seen a few places and are hopeful of trying to get bigger premises soon – and spend our money. We’re also hoping to take on two more people in the lead-up to Christmas, as well as two other Christmas temps.”
Now in its 17th year, Scottish EDGE has to date attracted 3624 applications, helped businesses generate 1858 jobs, supported 428 businesses, and handed out awards totalling more than £17.8m.
At yesterday evening’s virtual awards ceremony, Bare Bones Chocolate was singled out for praise and congratulated by CEO of Scottish EDGE, Evelyn McDonald, who delighted Lara and Cameron by revealing theirs is her favourite brand.
* For an in-depth delve into the world of ethical, luxury chocolate-making, see the lifestyle section of Lanarkshire Live on Saturday.
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
