Our Story

Ghislaine Barry, Founder & Chief Chocolatier

North Coast Chocolate Company is a small family business led by me, Ghislaine, on the far north coast of Scotland.

My journey into chocolate began in exactly the same way as Willy Wonka’s, with a dental surgeon father. Thankfully, chocolate was never off limits in our house. Guylian Seashells on a Friday night were, and still are, a firm family favourite.

In 2020, armed with three silicone moulds and some chocolate from Lidl, I decided to make handmade chocolates that Christmas. Somewhere between learning to temper chocolate and making a spectacular mess of the kitchen, a hobby became a genuine passion.

By 2023, I’d volunteered to make 85 wedding favour boxes for my brother’s wedding. The chocolates went down brilliantly, although the story most guests remember is that I accidentally ate an entire batch of Strawberry Crisp Bonbons and had to remake them the week of the wedding.

That little side project has now become North Coast Chocolate Company. Grace, my sister-in-law, keeps everything running behind the scenes while keeping my dreams of a chocolate river mostly under control. Together, we create handcrafted chocolates that celebrate the best of Scotland and my hometown, Thurso.

Rooted in Caithness

Wherever possible, we use natural ingredients, responsibly sourced chocolate and local produce, and we’re always working towards more sustainable packaging.

As we grow, we want to bring new skills, creativity and jobs to Caithness, building a family business our community can be proud of.