The West Midlands’ own Willy Wonka chocolate champ will see his tasty creations on the shelves in major supermarkets by Christmas.
Louis Barnett, aged 15, has been churning out chocolates with the help of his parents Phil and Mary from their home in Enville Road, Kinver, since last year.
Now his hard work has paid off after supermarket giants Waitrose and Sainsbury’s snapped up his chocolates served in an edible chocolate box, with plans to launch them at Christmas.
Waitrose has announced it will be selling the chocolates in all of its stores across the country while Sainsburys will also stock them.
A thousand independent shops around the UK have also expressed interest in selling Louis’s chocolates under his company’s name Chokolit.
Louis left school at 11 for home tutoring after being diagnosed with dyslexia and has since concentrated on gaining qualifications in chocolate making.
The name of his firm is how Louis used to spell chocolate because of his dyslexia.
Louis’s mum Mary said: “Louis actually did the Sainsbury’s pitch on his own in front of their main buyers and they said afterwards how good he was.”
The demand means Louis and his parents will be moving out of their home factory to bigger premises in Bridgnorth where they will be taking on staff to help them meet the orders due in September.
Louis said: “I love it and I love the pressure. I love chocolate and it is not about the money.”
11 Comments
Roald Dahl would be proud ….
Congratulations to Louis and his family, it goes to prove that with hard work and a little help most disabilites can be overcome. Tha district and his family should be proud of him. I expect he doesnt want any recognition,but I think he should be given as much help as possible to get his new production line up and running, come on local councils.
Well done
Very refreshing to see a youngster use his imagination.
Congratulations a credit to your parents
a true product of home education.Well done to louis AND his parents.
Fantastic succes. Well done. We Home educate too and its lovely to read such an inspiring story.
Good luck
Debbie
Just see what can be achieved with Home-Education! What a pity the authorities cannot see it, and are doing their best to make life difficult for those who choose to educate their children at home. Parents know what is best for their children.
Superb, Louis!
Home-ed rules!
Look forward to buying lots.
Kay & D xxx
Well done Louis it just goes to show what can be done when you put your mind to it. I HE my kids and stories like this just help me know I am doing the right thing. You are an inspiration to us all.
well done for acheiving making Chocolit. I have dyslexia so I hope I’ll be as good as you when I am older. I like to hear about people who have beaten their dyslexia.
That’s fabulous news Louis, well done you, and to mum and dad too, you must be so proud of your son.
It just goes to show that school is not the option for everyone, and that the system isn’t always right. Great to hear of someone who is HE achieving something at an early age that most school educated children can only dream of.
My 16 year old son, who is also dyslexic, was very impressed and says he will be shopping at Waitrose more often from now on!
Your parents are a credit to you, Louis.