Knoops Chocolate

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Knoops Chocolate
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryHospitality
Founded2013
FounderJens Knoop
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Number of locations
17 shops (March 2024)
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Jens Knoop (Founder)
William Gordon-Harris (Chief Executive)

Knoops Chocolate, commonly known as Knoops (pronounced "kuh–noops"), is a British chocolate café chain and retailer.[1][2] The business operates a chain of cafes known for its hand-crafted chocolate drinks.[1][3] The chain was launched in 2013 and, as of March 2024, has outlets in 17 locations in the United Kingdom.[1][4][5] The company also produces drinking chocolate and other products which are sold in their cafes, premium retailers Selfridges and Harrods and online.[1][6]

History[edit]

Knoops Chocolate was founded in 2013 by Jens Knoop, former IT manager who grew up in Germany and was interested in chocolate from an early age.[1][7][8] He opened the first Knoops café in Rye, East Sussex, England in 2013, serving hot chocolate, milkshakes, iced chocolate and coffee.[7][9][10]

In 2019, the company received investment from William Gordon-Harris, who was appointed executive chairman.[7] Knoops began opening more stores across the UK and launched its online retail offering shortly after.[11]

Since 2020, it has opened six more locations in London including Kensington, Richmond, Chelsea, Notting Hill, Knightsbridge and Covent Garden.[3][8]

In 2021, the company opened a café and store in Brighton.[12] In March 2022, the company opened a store in Oxford, England.[13]

In 2023, it opened more stores in England including Manchester, Cambridge, Bath and St Albans.[9][14][15][16] In July, Knoops appointed William Gordan-Harris as its chief executive.[11] In November, the company raised £8.3 million of investment, with the majority coming from London department store Morleys Stores.[17][18] In December, Knoops announced a partnership with new Wonka film when it was released in cinemas in the UK.[19]

Concept[edit]

The concept of Knoops Chocolate is based on a menu of over 20 different chocolates to suit the preferences of customers.[9] The company produces a variety of drinking chocolate flakes and a variety of seasonal and gift products.[1] It also offers coffee, marshmallows and its own cookbook.[20]

Knoops allows experimentation with different percentages of chocolate and flavours in a process it calls ‘Knoopology’.[9][21] In this process, customers can choose the percentage of chocolate, their choice of milk and add extra natural flavors such as sea salt, orange zest or chilli, to be made into a hot chocolate, milkshake or iced chocolate.[22][21]

Locations[edit]

  • Kensington, London
  • Chelsea, London
  • Knightsbridge, London
  • Richmond, London
  • Notting Hill, London
  • Covent Garden, London
  • Oxford, Oxfordshire
  • Manchester, Greater Manchester
  • Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
  • Bath, Somerset
  • St Albans, Hertfordshire
  • Rye, East Sussex
  • Brighton, East Sussex
  • Chester, England
  • Guildford, England
  • Edinburgh Old Town, Scotland
  • Edinburgh New Town, Scotland

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wood, Zoe (12 March 2022). "'People are bored with coffee': how posh hot chocolate is conquering the UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The High Street shops thriving after a tough year". BBC News. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Hunt, Simon (16 February 2023). "Knoops to open Knightsbridge store as hot chocolate firm eyes national expansion". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  4. ^ Graves, Kieran (18 August 2023). "New Guildford Knoops to open with 'expertly-crafted' hot chocolates". Surrey Live. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. ^ Walsh, Dominic (18 March 2024). "Knoops hot chocolate brand plans rapid expansion". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Knoops receives £6m investment to support..." The Caterer. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Knoops vows to 'own' chocolate drinks..." The Caterer. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b O'Boyle, Simon Hunt, Daniel (29 July 2023). "Knoops taps French aristocrat for £6 million loan in bid to become 'new Starbucks'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ a b c d Campbell, Jenna (23 April 2023). "Inside the shop with over 20 types of hot chocolate and giant marshmallows". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  10. ^ Logan, Fiona (14 July 2023). "Five minutes with Jens Knoop". delicious. magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b Badger2023-07-19T14:35:00+01:00, James. "Knoops appoints William Gordon-Harris as CEO after 78% growth this year". The Grocer. Retrieved 6 December 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "New bar selling chocolate drinks opens in Brighton (this is what's on the menu)". The Argus. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  13. ^ "New Knoops hot chocolate store is opening in Turl Street". Oxford Mail. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  14. ^ Dann, Niamh (27 March 2023). "Luxury brand hosting chocolate tasting event at Cambs hotel". Cambridgeshire Live. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  15. ^ D'Albiac, Stephen (27 August 2023). "Luxury hot chocolate brand to open new store in Bath". Somerset Live. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Meet Jens Knoop: Founder of St Albans' new chocolate shop". Herts Advertiser. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  17. ^ Secretary's Department - London Letters - From London (Indexed) - November 1916 (Report). Reserve Bank of Australia. 8 March 2021.
  18. ^ Walton, Joshua (28 November 2023). "Knoops to double estate after £8.3m investment pours in". Food Service Equipment Journal.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ confectionerynews.com (20 December 2023). "Knoops strikes chocolate gold with Wonka movie tie-in". confectionerynews.com. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Collections". Knoops. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Knoopology | Craft Your Perfect Chocolate Drink". Knoops. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  22. ^ "'We allow people to indulge their love of chocolate'". The Argus. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
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