Anthony Heurtier, creator and chocolatier of the Chocolate Empire Limited has had a long-standing passion for chocolate. His links to the trade started at the age of 15, when he decided to become a pastry chef. To pursue his interest he left his parent’s farm in Brittany and started training as an apprentice in a small patisserie. Anthony seemed to have a natural talent for making cakes and within two years had won a prize for the best apprentice patissier in the region.

Following such success, Anthony set off for Paris, where he completed his training and discovered the art of chocolate making, meeting experienced chocolatiers who taught him the secrets of the trade.

After his time in Paris, Anthony crossed the channel eager to learn English and discover English patisseries and chocolateries. Disappointed by what he found, Anthony worked in a French patisserie in Brighton for a number of years.

In 2005, he started a wedding cake business and was overwhelmed with orders and interest. Thrilled by the response from his wedding cakes, Anthony decided to specialise in chocolate making, reminiscing on his time spent in Paris and happy to be making chocolates again.

A year later, the Chocolate Empire Limited was launched with the aim of bringing real chocolate to a wider audience. Anthony’s own interest in environmental issues and his high regard for the finest ingredients meant that the Chocolate Empire had to be an organic company "I had always intended to go organic, as it makes such a difference to the quality and taste".

Anthony also believes that its not enough to just go organic and tries hard to make sure all his packaging is recyclable or re-usable “For me, going organic is just the first step; I also want all of our packaging to be recyclable and eventually bio-degradable”. Anthony’s latest intentions to go green can be seen in his new gift tins, which can be re-used or recycled and have plastic bio-degradable inner trays. "When I go to supermarkets and see the amount of unnecessary packaging that will be thrown away, I am determined that my business should contribute as little as possible to this problem.