Last month I had the privilege of visiting Colombia with our trusted suppliers, Luker Chocolate. As the in-house designer at Choc Affair our story is at the forefront of my mind at all times when delivering designs and marketing, at least I thought it was.
Meeting the farmers and seeing the vibrant colours of the cocoa pods firsthand is a life changing experience, one that will stay with me forever, and something you truly can’t grasp without seeing it with your own eyes. Now, while sat at my desk working on our latest Limited Edition ranges or working on your Private Label designs, I have the voice of Margarita at the forefront. Margarita is a cocoa farmer in Arauca who welcomed us into her home, sharing stories of how Casa Luker had enriched her life and improved her crop and in doing so, she has more time and income to visit her daughter, who will soon become a mother herself.
What made our trip even more special for me, was being able to share the experience with two of our long-standing clients. Ellie Lambe, Product Innovator & Buyer at hampers.com and Rachel Wicking-Anderson, Gift Buyer at Kew Gardens.
When asked to sum up the experience, Ellie had this to say…
‘Whilst in Arauca, we spent time with a group of children who benefit from the Chocolate Dream initiative, which Choc Affair supports. The program is an incredible force for good in the community, creating opportunities, joy, and hope for the next generation. Their spirit was infectious, and the afternoon we shared with them is a memory I’ll always cherish. It makes me genuinely proud to work with a company like Choc Affair that invests in meaningful, long-term support for cocoa-growing communities.
We also had the chance to experience a bit of adventure while in Arauca – riding the motorcycle rail through the jungle, crossing rivers and bridges, surrounded by the incredible natural beauty of the region with the Colombia sun beating down on us. We stopped off for lunch at a remote riverside restaurant, a peaceful and unforgettable setting that gave us time to reflect on everything we were experiencing. It was one of those moments where you truly feel immersed in another world.
Our trip was truly an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience – one that I will always be thankful for. Being able to see the journey of chocolate from bean to bar, and meet the people who make it possible, has been nothing short of inspiring. I came away with a renewed sense of purpose and deep respect for the people and partnerships that bring such meaningful impact to the world of chocolate. Thank you to the Choc Affair and Luker teams.’
How Ellie describes coming away with a new sense of purpose truly resonates, so as we work hard at Choc Affair HQ to bring these inspiring stories to life, we hope you’ll continue supporting us, so we can continue supporting the next generation of cocoa-growing communities.