An Aberdeen woman’s passion for chocolate is paying off after she sank more than £30,000 into a business start-up in Rosemount.
Lisa Thomson, a former operations director at a company specialising in computer software for the oil and gas industry, invested the cash in renovating suitable premises for her confectionery venture.
Now trading as Hardy’s Chocolates, on Rosemount Viaduct, she is tempting a growing number of shoppers with sweet treats from Belgium and also much closer to home, thanks to a deal with Shetland chocolatier Dave Williams.
It is all a world away from the 44-year-old’s previous boardroom role at Codify, the Aberdeen-based business software specialist launched in 2000 to build bespoke products for the oil and gas industry.
Before that, the Aberdeen University mathematics graduate had spells at organisations including Accenture, BusinessPort and Absoft.
But after 20 years working in information technology, she has finally turned her life-long love of chocolate into a business venture.
Despite being up and running only a few months, she has already bagged an exclusive for the north-east by becoming a stockist of luxury chocolates made by Mirrie Dancers in Lerwick.
Dave Williams, the Shetland firm’s owner, said: “Mirrie Dancers has come a long way since it first launched at the beginning of last year.
“I am absolutely thrilled that Hardy’s Chocolates will now be the sole stockist of our products in the north-east and I am looking forward to hearing the feedback from people within the region.”
Mr Williams, a former armed forces’ chef, launched Mirrie Dancers last year.
It specialises in unusual flavour combinations, including port and stilton, and lime and prosecco, and has distributed its chocolate to countries as far as South Africa, Switzerland and Australia.
Ms Thomson said: “Dave is a master in his craft and we both share the same values when it comes to chocolate and how it is made.
“Working with Mirrie Dancers will also help us grow the business and what we can provide for our customers, as we are now able to offer an even wider made-to-order service for corporate gifts and events.”
