It’s been a while…
What’s the cut-off time to stop starting your January conversations with “Happy New Year”?
Happy New Year! I know, I’m late to the party. There’s A LOT to catch up on. Jamie’s and my Christmas, how Catherine’s Originals ended 2025, the highs, the lows, some reflecting. My first sunny Christmas away and the creatures I endeavoured, or should I say nearly walked and canoed into...
Sharing with you my plans and intentions for 2026, how I look to grow Catherine’s Originals, acknowledge your feedback and make positive change. Goal setting and changing a mindset for the better.
I’ve actually been putting this email off. For three reasons.
One, I have a sh*t ton of catching up to do. All the work that didn’t get done in December, plus paying the consequences of quite literally shoving my laptop and phone in a drawer for 8 days over New Year. Never again.
Two, I’ve been delaying the ‘day-to-day’ running of Catherine’s Originals so far this year to focus on some bigger picture stuff. Which means areas I usually spend my time, like writing to you chocoholics, haven’t been prioritised. I’m working on a balance (and in all honesty, think we need some office help to take the load).
And thirdly, I needed to get my head around what it was I wanted to say in this welcome-back email. December ended with a lot of rushing and putting out fires. I don’t want to dwell on those fires, but progress from them. Which is why I waited to get a clear mind before speaking to you guys.
Gosh. Never did I think running a chocolate business would be so deep or serious. It can be. And for me, someone who likes to have a glass-half-full attitude on everything I do…positive manifestation and that… It’s scary when things need to be serious for a moment. December was nothing but seriousness and stress in all honesty.
The photo you see above is the Catherine’s Originals team of 2025. I’m not sure I’ve shared this image with you yet, but each and every one of the people in this photo ensured we pulled through Q4 last year. Q4 of 2025 was the most tricky period ever in the entire five years of Catherine’s Originals. It is thanks to Scott, Lewis, Elliot, Joe 1, Cris, Frankie, Joe 2, Jackson, Ellie, Sophie, Brodie, Ella and of course Jamie that we made it.
I don’t think I have ever put away the Christmas tree and decorations before Christmas Day has actually happened. We packed everything up the evening before we left for our holiday. I am one of those people who thinks starting January 1st with the decorations still up is bad luck for the new year. There was no way I was coming home on January 5th with the tree still up.
Thailand was well and truly needed. My mum’s side of the family all whizzed off to Khao Lak to enjoy the festive period in Thai style. A beach, fried rice, a scooter ride through some palm trees, and a good laugh with loved ones.
Back to luck and omens, the number 3 is usually considered an unlucky number. On the 30th of December, we celebrated my cousin, Fifi’s, 30th birthday. Her champagne year. We did this in style. Flip-flops, three family members throwing up from food poisoning, and a very precarious longboat, driven by a local Thai man who didn’t speak English. All while on the hunt for a wild elephant in Khao Sok National Park.
Not only did we stumble upon a roaring jungle herd of elephants, crunching bamboo and demolishing the water banks, but we also saw what looked like a mama elephant taking an evening bath in the cool water. I could not, not scream. A wild elephant. In Thailand. Having a bath. I was soon told to shut up by my other cousin, Sam. And when I say this elephant was wild, I mean fully wild. Not one of those tourist traps where they’re in a large space and the guide pretends to “find” one.
We had a good ten minutes admiring this beautiful grey beast when our driver (his name was A Orange Van, no, I’m not kidding but we just called him A) whistled at us. A was pointing to the other side of the riverbank. A wild gaur, a type of bison feeding at the water’s edge. Known to Thai’s as the last animal you would want to cross in the wild. A complete rarity to come across, the king of the Thai jungles. A double whammy for us.
Along with a very yellow and very large eight-legged friend, one of the three I most certainly didn’t want to meet (spot him below). It was a day of threes, and I consider that an extremely lucky and fortunate way to walk into 2026.
Meaning of the Gaur, Bison – Transformation, inner peace by letting go of ego and anger, washing away past sins.
Meaning of the Elephant: Strength, Wisdom. White elephants are particularly sacred, associated with divine favour, supreme kingship, and bringing good fortune. And good luck.
With Catherine’s Originals in my thoughts when spotting these animals, and feeling inspired by a new tropical product thanks to the setting around me, I am taking these sightings as nothing but positive and as exactly how I want to start my 2026.
Goodbye Christmas Monopoly family feuds. Hello Pigs. We spent Christmas dinner having Thai food on the beach with pigs. Not real ones, these little rubber ones my mum is holding. A game that brings nothing but adrenaline, excitement, and everyone’s competitive side out (even my mum’s, who claims she is not competitive). She won a whopping 200 baht!
I have never gambled or bet in my life. The first time I do it is over rubber pigs for 200 baht. That was enough for me.
2026, Catherine’s Originals intends to create, innovate, grow, deliver, share, acknowledge, and learn. This summer we will be three years into our factory. Where has that time gone? I need to ensure that we are growing sustainably and can afford growth while fulfilling demand.
With higher costs popping up left, right, and centre, I’ve had to seriously look at all of our costs, which means for the first time in three years, we are having to do a price increase. It will be fair and in line with industry norms. But in all honesty, unlike other brands who have changed recipes, removed SOOO much cocoa, so they can no longer call their chocolate products chocolate, or changed the weights of products while keeping prices the same (to deceive the end consumer), I’d much rather just be honest with you and say we are having to put prices up this year.
We are not changing recipes. We are not changing our company ethos. We are not changing ingredients or pack sizes. Or anything. With cocoa prices reaching all-time highs and living wages going up, we can’t afford to keep prices the same, otherwise we would be running at a loss. Which, over time, would mean no more Catherine’s Originals and no more chocolate. This keeps the products you love accessible and Catherine’s Originals around, with good values.
When you opt for Catherine’s Originals, you’re not just buying yummy chocs (well, you are), but you’re supporting an ethos of fairer, more sustainable chocolate. From fairer, more sustainable ingredients, to our working environment, to the fact you get over 45% cocoa solids in your chocolate (and in some, over 55%), we promise not to change our ways or the reasons why I started. Fairer chocolate that is more inclusive.
This year, we plan to grow our team and improve your experience. From product innovation, to postage testing (ensuring those advent calendar chocs don’t slip), to response times on customer service emails, to how quickly we can send you your order and ensure we don’t have long lead times. These areas will be improved. You will see growth. And I ask that if you did receive a long delay for your chocolates to arrive, please know that we are sorry and that we are actively working on improving. It’s a Catherine Pinky Promise.
Each month we are bringing out fun, new, and creative O’bar flavours for you Wild Thangs to try! Have you seen? Fancy trying a completely new O’bar flavour each month? Check it out. January’s flavour is a killer, you’re going to crumble for it!
We picked up Lewes Nigel (our home wild beast) from Jamie’s Auntie Trudi, who kindly cat-sat while we were away. Greeted with nothing but cuddles, fluffy jumpers, and a poo on my lap on the car ride home. Nothing like getting back into the swing of it.
All orders placed over the Christmas and New Year period were dispatched throughout last week when we caught up on all those itty-bitty jobs. Your chocs are coming! Thank you for your patience.
Wishing all you lovely Choco Lovers a year of the Thai Elephant and the Bison too and all the good stuff they bring.
Stay sweet, stay original, stay with us (even if we had a few hiccups!),
Catherine x
