HUGE partnerships, wholesalers and delivering your selection tins!

Grab your favorite mug, light that cozy candle, and maybe even put on some chill “flow” music. That’s what I tell myself before I dive into typing. But let's be real—sometimes trying to set the perfect mood to write "the best blog ever" just adds unnecessary pressure! I mean, who needs that? Writing, creating, and dreaming up ideas are things I absolutely adore, however, creativity can’t always be forced. You can't just will yourself into that flowing creative state of mind. It’s true whether I’m whipping up a new chocolate recipe, dreaming up a packaging design, or even just trying to figure out what’s for dinner (again!) While I love all of these creative tasks, the truth is, life can sometimes get in the way. Family dramas, chasing invoices, small court cases (that’s for another day), and just plain fatigue can turn the joy of creating into a bit of a slog. I suppose this is why Mindful Chef was created.

Anyway, enough about that—let's dive into August! I don't know about you, but it feels like summer is just now starting to warm up, yet somehow the leaves are already turning brown. Back-to-school stuff is flying off the shelves, and I swear, I've only managed three BBQs all season and haven't even set foot on a beach. Where has summer gone?! Is anyone else feeling like autumn is barging in way through too early this year?

But hey, it's been all systems go at Choco HQ! August has been our biggest month yet, with over 20% growth from July—still technically summer! I’m beyond excited for the Christmas rush ahead. I can’t wait for thousands more, plant-based chocolate lovers to try our chocs and realise that vegan chocolate doesn’t have to taste, well, shit.

Speaking of growth, our first three wholesalers have already received their first pallets of the year, gearing up for Christmas alongside us. I've been deep in talks with another wholesaler, but unfortunately, we missed the boat for their Christmas catalogue. Turns out, they plan their catalogues 12 months in advance! And yes, that means we’ve missed Easter 2025 too. I know, right? So, planning for 2026 is officially a go! It feels wild to be thinking that far ahead when Jamie and I just wrapped up our 2025 plans. Note to self: need to touch base with all our wholesalers about Christmas and Easter 2025/2026.

For those new here, you might not know much about wholesalers. Think of them as middlemen or distributors. There are countless wholesalers across the UK (and worldwide) that cover different regions and products. We sell our chocolates to them and they distribute to their customers. We are now with CLF, Greencity, Ethical Superstore, Love4local and Vegan Perfection-- so if you want your local indie stocking us this Christmas, tell them we’re ready and ordering has never been this easy for vegan chocolate selections!

The beauty of working with wholesalers is that they help us spread the word about Catherine's Originals much faster than we ever could alone. For example, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the Australian market (I don’t know anyone there, don’t know any shop names, and truth be told, I’ve never even been there). But thanks to our wholesaler connections, they buy in bulk from us, manage the shipment and distribute them to all the local independents. It’s a win-win for everyone—new customers get to enjoy our plant-based goodies, the wholesaler gets a cut, and shops can stock up easily.

“If you weren't ready, you wouldn't be given the opportunity” A quote from Grace Beverly (if you don’t know her, check her out). To me, an all-round inspiring woman. This quote was given to me at such a pivotal time this month. The reason I have added it in is because I thought some of you, may just need to read a quote like this to feel that oomph and “go get it!” WHATEVER THAT IS TO YOU!

This month, we also had a massive delivery of tins—pallets upon pallets of them. It’s starting to look like we might be outgrowing our warehouse already, and it's not even been 12 months! Jamie and I are now debating whether to get another warehouse or stack some shipping containers out front for extra storage. If anyone knows anything about shipping containers, please reach out because I have zero clue where to start!

Our September tin delivery is coming up, and yes, that means the world's first truly vegan selection tin is on its way to your doors soon. Have you got your tin yet? Heads up—we’re not ordering any more this year, so when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Oh, and some super exciting news—not to be underestimated—we’re getting rid of the plastic seals around our selection boxes. No more plastic, no more struggling to find the edge to rip open, and no more ripped boxes! Once our current stock runs out, we’ll be boxing up with clear biodegradable stickers, something we’ve been wanting to do from the start but only just found the perfect material for.

Before I wrap up, I’ll leave you with a little teaser. We’ve got a very exciting brand partnership coming in September—our biggest yet! Getting your hands on Catherine’s Originals is about to get even easier, but that’s all I’m saying for now. Keep your eyes peeled...

Stay sweet, my chocolate lovers!

Catherine 🍫❤️