A chocolatier in Cambridgeshire has announced a halt to some of her production due to persistent humidity. Isabelle Chappelle, owner of Chocolat Chocolat near Gamlingay, stated that recent heatwaves have disrupted chocolate-making during the hottest parts of the day, affecting summer sales.
The company, which has a shop in Cambridge, is reportedly using freezer packs for deliveries to prevent melting and is storing most of its stock in a single air-conditioned room. Ms Chappelle noted that humidity is a greater challenge than heat for their operations.
The disruption has impacted summer sales for events such as birthdays and graduations, as products cannot be sent in time. The company has also been unable to sample Halloween and Christmas products, which it typically does at this time of year, affecting autumn product development and storage.
Chocolat Chocolat is exploring solutions, including potentially installing additional air conditioning, producing earlier in the season, and increasing stockpiling. Ms Chappelle also mentioned that imports of Belgian chocolate from France have decreased this summer, and any deliveries received in Cambridgeshire require checking for melting.