Luxury chocolates were originally only available in the UK from from continental manufacturers like Lindt or Suchard and very occasionally you would see unusual brands like Laura Secord from Canada. Chocoholics looking for chocolates that were a bit different would have to search out for a local delicatessen or travel to places like Selfridges or Harrods in London.
In the late seventies there was something of a revolution when holidaymakers returning from their continental breaks started to ask for the delicious truffles and luxury praline chocolates that they had eaten while they were on holiday. Numerous small Belgian chocolate shops started to spring up all over the UK and many were run by well to do ladies whose husbands funded their 'hobby' as an alternative to part time work. The shops were often very small - literally just big enough for a chiller cabinet to store the chocolates, some shelves to display boxes and standing room for just a few customers. They would carefully pack up small 'ballotins' of delicious handmade luxury Belgian chocolates, carefully bow it and perhaps decorate it with silk flowers. The shops were often situated in secondary positions and this coupled with the high cost of the chocolates and low sales meant that many of them failed after a short time trading.
Luxury Chocolates
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