I have never contributed to a blog as I thought it would be all the brand managers trying to be clever and market themselves.

Funnily I see that some have assumed that is the case here. But I am afraid not. Note my late response!

Thank you for taking the trouble, I know how time is precious and I have taken note of all that has been said.

This project started with an idea of expanding our social enterprise further than just inspiring people who have experienced homelessness with fine cooking in our hospitality business.  We have been running our apprenticeship since October 2007. Trained over 30 people on a back to work program. Trained over 230 young vulnerable people to a fresher more fulfilled life through our Freshlife pathway and fully employed two people that have previously been constant crack users. Both have found a new begining for themselves.

This product is a way for us to give people that don’t wish to be chefs but want to try something different. We don’t expect them to want to work with us forever but merely light some kind of fire in their bellies and start some meaniful activity.

We have made a product that hopfully tastes great. We used our own money to pay for the development, design and on shelf costs. We had a lot of luck, an enormous amount of help and support and of course our gut instinct. 

Yes we understand some of the choices or I guess you may call them compromises. These were made with much careful concideration for what is the end goal for both the consumer and the brand is.

I believe you need to make the product speak for itself. They were developed in my kitchen. So I copied my notes from my recipe book. Pretty much as I wrote them. I want the chocolates to last for people to enjoy as well as feel that the value will last longer than your average short shelf life chocolates. That’s why I put a touch of vodka in there. It helps! 

The sorbitol is there because I make fresh pastry and bread in my kitchen. It’s good practice to use it as things like yeast and other ingredients could have an impact. I do put a pinch in!

I would like to say that nearly all our customers believe that what we do is pretty special and they feel great about contributing to it. It’s part of the experience.

 I work pretty hard but I have time for visits to show anyone around that would spare us the time. Meet the trainees and have a cuppa.

My last parting jesture is about my pictures, I am so proud of my team and my business that I am prepared to put my face on the box (twice)  I hope it shows some credability as well as my pride. 

Hope to hear from you sometime

Simon Boyle
Managing Director – Beyond Boyle Ltd
Trustee – Beyond Boyle Foundation 

Unfortunately it seems you have a very pessimistic view. I’ve taken this from their website and don’t see anything about gimmicky workshops, rather they are helping people in need to get jobs and sort their lives:

By providing fantastic work experience and on-the-job skills training for people that have experienced homelessness. To help propel them into not just full time employment but onto a flourishing career path.

Our unique programme also provides support, training and progression planning for trainees to regain their self esteem, belief and confidence needed to accomplish full employability. We partner with our parent company Beyond Boyle Ltd who contributes in kind to the Foundation and provides the valuable work experience and employment opportunities to the trainees, apprentices and graduates.

Also, you might find this of interest:

We don’t believe that food or service should be complicated or stuffy. Nor do we believe that ingredients should travel unnecessarily, so we support our local farmers and food producers whenever possible. There are times when we want flavours and ingredients from around the world and we always try to trace the source, making sure it has been produced to our own ethically high standards.

I’m more than happy to pay a bit more for chocolates that taste amazing and are doing something incredible at the same time. Those that don’t will buy Cadbury’s.

I’ve also tried the chocolates and they taste incredible, the caramelised orange is my favourite.

The thing that really makes these truffles stand out is that they fund training courses for people that have experienced homelessness – which it states clearly in a concise paragraph on the back of the box.

Considering most chocolate companies out there (apart from Divine, Green & Blacks) are highly unethical, I think these choccies deserve some praise.

I wasn’t sure what sorbitol was but after looking it up, its a sugar substitute which ‘occurs naturally in many stone fruits and berries from trees of the genus Sorbus.’ Not so bad after all eh?