Yorkshire-founded premium dark hot chocolate brand, 80Noir Ultra, is celebrating a successful first year of trading, having secured multiple awards and the backing of several high-profile ambassadors.
‘Much more than hot chocolate’, 80Noir Ultra was launched in Northallerton in October 2020 by qualified personal trainer, wellness writer and ex-banker of 17 years, Carole Armitage, and is a high quality 80.3% dark chocolate naturally packed with antioxidants and minerals which is truly delicious to eat or drink, without any bitterness in taste.
The chocolate is available in mini bars and bags of ‘beads’ which can be drunk, eaten, melted or added to breakfast and baking for a powerful chocolate hit. Its rich, creamy and smooth recipe has already won several awards with Great Taste and Women’s Running and has been nominated as a finalist in the Great British Food Awards.
The brand, which was named one of Forbes’ ‘17 Best Healthy New Vegan Food And Drink Products’ just three months after launching, has also partnered with 10 Olympic and professional athletes who are acting as ambassadors to help spread the word about the positive use of hot chocolate and training bars in their fitness and wellbeing regimes.
Carole Armitage, founder of 80Noir Ultra, said: “The biggest problem many people have with consuming dark chocolate, despite knowing it is good for them, is that it is too bitter, so they choose to satisfy their taste buds with white or milk chocolate and end up with few to zero mind and body benefits.
“We have solved this issue with the launch of 80Noir Ultra – a bespoke dark hot chocolate, mini bars and training bars which offer all of the magnificence and benefits of high-quality dark chocolate, but with an even better flavour and no bitterness.
“The hot chocolate is designed to reset the mind and soothe the soul, whilst the training bars are specifically hand crafted to help balance, rejuvenate and energise peoples’ bodies and minds. All are made in perfect daily doses to be enjoyed as part of a positive lifestyle.
“Since launching, the last year has been a whirlwind and we couldn’t have predicted the brand would be such a huge success in a short time. That said, I always knew my chocolate was great, and the awards and recognition it has already received are testament to the years of research and development that have gone into each product.
“We have many exciting plans in the pipeline and cannot wait for even more people to discover 80Noir Ultra and it’s nutritional benefits in the next year to feel happy, content, boosted and balanced!”
80Noir Ultra is the only one of its kind promoting the positive association of dark chocolate and mental and physical wellbeing.
The business, which has grown from one person to a team of four, successfully completed its Crowdfunding first ‘round’ to receive £20,900 of investment in June 2021 to create a hot chocolate trailer, followed by a further £100,000 in investment and grants.
