MARGARET RIVER CHOCOLATE COMPANY
By Graeme Olsen
It shouldn't be a surprise that the idea of opening
a chocolate factory in Margaret River came to it's
owners during Easter, the season for chocolate...
And like many of our south west business stories,
the owners had no real experience in the industry
they were deciding to enter. In this case, they
had not previously worked in retail, tourism,
or anything related to chocolate.
But when you have a dream, that doesn't have
to matter, and within 12 months the company's
first factory was built in Margaret River (a
second factory has since been built in Swan
Valley in Perth).
The factory was an immediate success with both
locals and tourists, and it's easy to see why.
The quality and range of chocolate produced
on the premesis is amazing, and all visitors
to the factory get to not only view and purchase
this chocolate, but also how it's made.
And yes, there is free tasting!
The basic process for the chocolate factory
is to source "raw chocolate", called
couveture, and then blend and temper it to create
their own distinct flavour.
The end result is not only a large range of
your traditional chocolate items, but other
less common things such as chocolate milk, icecream, sauces, lollies, and even massage oil. Add
to that the range of jams, pickles, sauces,
salad dressings and other condiments they produce,
and you can see why the place is so popular.
Not only are visitors treated to free chocolate tastings,
but there are also interactive displays and viewing
windows to watch the products being made. There is also
information on the history of chocolate, and indoor/outdoor
café facilities.
Open 7 days a week, 364 days a year, the factory
is a must-see attraction in the Margaret River region.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company is located on
the corner of Harman's Mill Road and Harman's South
Road in Willyabrup (just north of Margaret River).
For further information, visit their website at www.chocolatefactory.com.au.
August 2005
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