“If times are bad, people drink beer and eat chocolate and if times are good, people drink beer and eat chocolate.
These words, from the proprietor of the Margaret River Chocolate Company, Martin Black sum up why the company, which began in 1999, has become so successful.
Black told My Small Business that while growth in the last two years have not been quite as strong, the company increased the size of its second factory, located in Western Australia’s Swan Valley, twofold earlier this year.
The company also doubled the size of its main factory in the Margaret River two years ago.
“Our first factory opened in Margaret River in 1999 and we opened the second one in the Swan Valley in late 2000,” he told My Small Business.
The next phase of the operations will include opening another chocolate factory in a wine growing region in another state, or opening a concept store in a city, but Black would not reveal more details.
“It will be the biggest thing we’ve ever done in terms of making an investment; it will be a big step forward in adding to our capacity,” he says.
The company is hoping to expand on its factories which are already a popular tourist attraction and work on a second providore is about to begin in the Swan Valley.
The Margaret River Chocolate Company is currently dealing with the impact of the high Australian dollar, but if its past resilience is anything to go by, considering it has suffered though bad weather impacting the sector, the SARS virus, Ansett’c collapse in 2001, bird flu, it should be fine.
Black believes the success of the company comes down to ensuring the happiness of both workers and customers.
“No matter what’s going on out the back, you have to make sure front of house has a happy, friendly, sublime atmosphere.
“If people feel good they want to spend money.
“If you look after front of house, the rest will fall into place."