What Quirky Chocolate does

Quirky Chocolate is an Edinburgh-based artisan chocolatier founded in 2008 by Sandra Colamartino and operated as Quirky Gift Library Limited. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Scottish-themed chocolate bars, gift boxes, and hampers from a single manufacturing facility at the Castlebrae Business Centre, employing 12 people ("QuirkStars"). Since 2016 the entire chocolate-making process — tempering, moulding, and hand-wrapping — has been performed in-house, using single-origin Colombian cocoa sourced directly from Luker Chocolate (Fino De Aroma classification), alongside Scottish ingredients from local suppliers such as Ross's of Edinburgh (tablet), Bruce Farms (berries), and Roaring Stag Coffee. The company also operates an in-house packaging-printing capability that enables extremely short print runs and near-zero packaging waste.

The business monetises through four channels: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce on a Shopify storefront serving UK customers (single bars £6.50–£7.50, 3-bar gift box £19, 6-bar gift box £34, hamper £52, free delivery over £50); (2) own-brand/private-label chocolate for hotels, hospitality, and corporate clients with low minimum order quantities of 40 (large bars), 80 (mini bars), and 100 (micro bars) units; (3) own-recipe bespoke development for whisky and gin distilleries, where customers supply their own spirit to be transformed into branded filled chocolates (minimum 60 boxes); and (4) wholesale distribution through dedicated trade accounts and the Faire marketplace. Sales are diversified across a named enterprise roster spanning luxury hospitality (Rocco Forte, Cromlix, Handpicked, voco Edinburgh, Radisson Blu), spirits (Dewars, Kilchoman, Bombay Sapphire, Blair Athol), media (Virgin Media), tourism and culture (V&A Dundee, Historic Scotland, Royal Yacht Britannia), aviation, education, and government (House of Commons).

Recent strategic moves have shifted the company from a purely artisan gifting business towards licensed and event-driven growth, including becoming the official chocolate supplier for the Scottish Football Association and Team Scotland's Commonwealth Games 2026 team, and launching a Makers & Creators collaboration programme paying royalties to independent illustrators. Operations remain bootstrapped with no external funding, and the company achieved SALSA food-safety accreditation in 2024 alongside a transition to direct supply from Luker Chocolate for fully traceable bean-to-bar provenance.

Name

Quirky Chocolate

Legal name

Quirky Gift Library Limited

Website

https://quirkychocolate.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quirky Chocolate is an Edinburgh-based artisan chocolatier that designs, manufactures and sells Scottish-themed chocolate bars, gift boxes, and bespoke private-label products directly to consumers, hotels, distilleries, sports organisations, and corporate clients across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisan Confectionery

NAICS

Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing (31135), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Chocolate & Chocolate Confectionery (CRADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chocolate & Candy Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAM), Chocolate & Confectionery Shops (THAFAGAD)

Keywords

• Artisan chocolate manufacturing
• Private label chocolate
• Bean to bar confections
• Scottish chocolate gifting
• Corporate chocolate branding

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Retail Sales: E-commerce sales of artisan chocolate bars and gift sets to consumers. Products include single bars (£6.50-£7.50), 3-bar gift boxes (£19), 6-bar gift boxes (£34), and hampers (£52). Free delivery on orders over £50.
2. Branded/Corporate Chocolate: Private label and corporate chocolate for hotels, events, and businesses. Products include micro bars (min 100), mini bars (min 80), and large bars (min 40). Revenue from custom branding fees and product sales.
3. Own Recipe Chocolate: Bespoke recipe development for whisky distilleries, hotels, and events. Customers send their alcohol which is transformed into branded chocolate products.
4. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale accounts for stockists and retailers. Products sold in bulk to gift shops and hospitality venues with fully customizable wrappers.
5. Charitable Product Partnership: Limited edition Banoffee Doddie bar where 50% of sales revenue goes directly to My Name'5 Doddie Foundation (MND charity).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Quirky Chocolate is an Edinburgh-based artisan chocolatier that designs, manufactures, and packages its own single-origin Scottish-themed chocolate bars, gift boxes, and hampers. The company produces private-label and own-recipe chocolate for hotels, distilleries, and corporate clients using single-origin Colombian cocoa from Luker Chocolate, and sells directly to consumers through its own Shopify e-commerce store alongside licensed sports product lines for Team Scotland and the Scottish Football Association.

Product overview

Quirky Chocolate is an artisan Scottish chocolatier based in Edinburgh operating since 2008. The company offers a diverse portfolio of products across multiple categories: (1) Signature Scottish Chocolate Collection featuring tartan-wrapped bars inspired by Scottish flavours like whisky, Iron Brew, tablet, and regional ingredients; (2) Licensed sports chocolates including Official Team Scotland Commonwealth Games and Scottish Football Association products; (3) Occasion-specific chocolates for birthdays, weddings, and celebrations; (4) Private label/own-brand services for hotels, hospitality, and corporate clients featuring low minimum order quantities and fully customisable packaging; (5) Own-recipe bespoke chocolates for whisky and gin distilleries where customers send alcohol and receive branded chocolates. The product range spans individual bars (100g standard, 35g mini, 12g micro), gift boxes (3-bar and 6-bar selections), and hampers. The company also runs a Makers & Creators collaboration programme featuring independent artists' designs on chocolate bars with royalty payments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scottish Chocolate Collection Signature range of artisan chocolate bars inspired by Scottish flavours including whisky, Iron Brew, tablet, Cranachan, salted caramel, and regional ingredients, presented in distinctive tartan wrappers for retail gift buyers.
• Team Scotland Chocolate Official licensed chocolate products for Team Scotland Commonwealth Games featuring the official mascot and team branding, sold as individual bars and multi-bar gift sets.
• Scottish Football Association Chocolate Official licensed Scottish Football Association chocolate products including Scotland Home Kit and Away Kit bars and gift sets celebrating the national football team.
• Birthday Chocolate Collection Birthday-themed chocolate gifts with age-milestone designs (40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th) and occasion-specific illustrations for personal gifting.
• Wedding Chocolate Favours Personalised artisan chocolate wedding favours and gifts for bridal parties, including botanical, Scottish tartan, and pride flag designs for LGBTQ+ marriages.
• Own Brand Chocolate Service Private label and corporate chocolate service offering fully customised branded packaging with low minimum order quantities for hotels, events, and corporate clients.
• Hotel & Hospitality Chocolate Custom-branded chocolate range specifically designed for hotels and VIP gifting, available in small minimum runs and tailored to luxury hospitality requirements.
• Own Recipe Chocolate Service Bespoke recipe development service for whisky and gin distilleries, hotels, and tourist attractions; customers send their own alcohol which Quirky Chocolate transforms into branded chocolates.
• Banoffee Doddie Chocolate Limited edition Banoffee bar created in collaboration with My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, inspired by Doddie Weir's favourite pudding, with 50% of proceeds donated to MND research.
• Makers & Creators Collaboration Bars Chocolate bars featuring independent artists' and illustrators' artwork (Wink Design, Hole In My Pocket, Nichola Cowdery, Megan Claire) with royalty fees paid directly to creators on every bar sold.
• Branded Chocolate Bars (Micro, Mini, and Large) White-label chocolate bars available in micro (12g, minimum 100), mini (35g, minimum 80), and large (100g, minimum 40) formats with full custom branding for hotels, events, and corporate clients.
• Scottish 3-Bar Gift Box Gift box allowing customers to select three Scottish chocolate bars from the collection, presented beautifully for gifting occasions at £19.00 per box.
• Scottish 6-Bar Gift Box Ribboned gift box containing six Scottish chocolate bars with optional gift message for premium gifting occasions at £34.00 per box.
• Ultimate Scottish Chocolate Gift Hamper Comprehensive gift hamper featuring a selection of artisan Scottish chocolates for an extensive tasting experience, priced at £52.00.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminated almost all packaging waste through in-house printing capability
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Team ScotlandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official chocolate supplier for the Commonwealth Games 2026. Products feature Team Scotland branding and Clyde the Thistle mascot. Exclusive licensing arrangement for Commonwealth Games.
• Scottish Football Association (SFA)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Official suppliers of Scottish Football Association chocolate. Products include Scotland national team themed bars and gift sets. Licensed products for 2026 World Cup qualification celebration.
• Luker ChocolatecoreOthers · 1 January 2024Direct partnership with Colombian family-owned Luker Chocolate for single origin cocoa. Luker holds Fino De Aroma classification (only 8% of world's cocoa growers). B-Corp certified supplier. Fully traceable bean-to-bar supply chain.
• My Name'5 Doddie FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Charitable partnership creating the Banoffee Doddie chocolate bar. 50% of sales revenue goes directly to the foundation supporting MND research. Inspired by Doddie Weir's favourite pudding. Current ongoing flavour donation partnership.
• Wink Design (Michelle Lancaster)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIllustrator collaboration featuring dog-themed artwork on chocolate bars. Royalty fee paid to illustrator on every bar sold. Multi-award winning designer based in sunny south coast of England.
• Hole In My PocketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlasgow-based artist collaboration featuring graduation and Scottish-themed designs on chocolate bars. Royalty fee structure on sales.
• Nichola CowderyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based illustrator collaboration featuring party, celebration, and cat-themed designs. Bold colourful style with quirky sense of humour.
• Megan ClaireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthamptonshire-based designer with distinctive foil finish and hand-drawn illustration style. Designs featuring good luck and celebration themes.
• Ross's of EdinburghminorOthersLocal supplier of authentic Scottish tablet for Butter Tablet chocolate bar. Family sweet manufacturer operating for over 130 years in Edinburgh.
• Bruce Farms (Perthshire)minorOthersSupplier of Scottish berries including raspberries, blackcurrants, and honeyberries for Scottish Collection bars. Located in Perthshire, Scotland.
• Roaring Stag Coffee (Ballater)minorOthersHighland coffee roasters based in Ballater, Royal Deeside. Supplier of Guatemalan Dark Blend for Espresso chocolate bar.
• Scotland ShopminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of tartan patterns for Banoffee Doddie chocolate bar wrapper design.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Lindt & Sprüngli:

Direct peers

• Hotel Chocolat: UK-based premium chocolate maker and retailer with its own e-commerce, subscription, and corporate gifting channels. Highly comparable to Quirky Chocolate in combining bean-to-bar provenance with branded gift bars, hospitality partnerships, and private-label-style collaborations, though at substantially greater scale and capitalisation.
• Booja-Booja: Norfolk-based organic, dairy-free, soya-free and palm-oil-free chocolate maker selling gift boxes and bars. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the ethical/sustainable ingredient positioning, palm-oil-free promise, and premium gift-box range targeted at UK independent retail and online gifting.
• Willie's Cacao: UK bean-to-bar chocolate brand founded by Willie Harcourt-Cooze, selling single-origin bars through independent retail and online. Directly comparable to Quirky Chocolate on single-origin cocoa sourcing, small-batch bars, and independent retailer/wholesale distribution, though with a more global rather than Scottish-themed brand story.
• Prestat: London-based premium chocolate maker holding a Royal Warrant, focused on boxed chocolates and truffles for luxury retail and gifting. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on premium gifting positioning and presence in upmarket stores, with similar emphasis on beautifully designed packaging for the corporate and gift market.
• Montezuma's Chocolates: UK artisan chocolate brand selling premium bars, truffles, and gift collections through own stores, online, and wholesale. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the artisan UK manufacturing model, wide gift-box range, and multi-channel distribution including corporate gifting and stockists.
• Artisan du Chocolat: UK premium chocolatier founded by a former designer, selling handmade chocolates online and through concessions at high-end retailers. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the design-forward artisan positioning and gifting-led product mix, with similar reliance on third-party retail and online channels.
• Rococo Chocolates: London-based artisan chocolatier producing handmade chocolates and bars with strong design-led packaging and own-store retail. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the artisan/design-led positioning and small-batch confectionery model, though focused on a London flagship and counter sales rather than Scottish themes.
• Butlers Chocolates: Irish premium chocolatier producing boxed chocolates and bars for gifting, with strong airport and tourist-channel presence. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the gifting-led range, hampers, and tourist-attraction retail partnerships, though at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Green & Black's: UK premium organic chocolate brand owned by Mondelez, selling bars and gift products through major grocery and online channels. Comparable to Quirky Chocolate on the ethical, traceable, premium positioning, but operates as a mass-market CPG incumbent rather than an artisan specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quirkygiftsuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/quirkychocolate
• Instagraminstagram.com/quirkychocolate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quirky-gift-library-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quirky Chocolate