Founded in 2010, Gnaw Chocolate is Norfolk’s first sustainable chocolate brand. Committed to ethically sourced, innovative and high-quality chocolate, Gnaw’s mission is to lead positive change within the chocolate industry. Managing Director Mike Navarro discussed the company’s dedication to sustainability and upcoming new products. Report by Antonia Cole.
Based in Norwich, UK, Gnaw Chocolate’s product range is currently split into two categories: bars and hot chocolate. Gnaw’s bars take premium quality chocolate and integrate innovative flavours to develop creative chocolate experiences. From classic milk chocolate and salted caramel to banoffee pie, the company has a bar to suit every customer and occasion.
The company’s hot chocolate range not only hosts a variety of flavours, but is in the form of hot chocolate spoons, which consumers simply stir into warm milk and watch as the hot chocolate forms in the mug with the marshmallows melting into a rich, creamy topping.
As well as popular flavours such as raspberry crisp and crunchy peanut butter, Gnaw offers vegan options made without milk. This range offers indulgent and dairyfree chocolate products, expanding Gnaw’s market to include customers who follow a plant-based diet.
Whether a customer is looking to treat themselves, or someone else, with Gnaw’s variety of gift options, the company’s product range offers an indulgent flavour experience, without compromising on sustainability or ethics.
“We are always developing our flavour profiles and bringing new ideas to market,” said Managing Director Mike Navarro. “Our flavours are made to excite our customers and not only satisfy their tastebuds, but to tell a story. We hope that with our flavours, we can transport our consumers to a place of happiness and capture a sense of nostalgia, taking them back to treasured memories
“Our new raspberry mojito flavour can take them back to hot summer parties, whilst rocky road can transport them back to Grandma’s kitchen. We have lots of new flavours being released soon, which will capture all these memories in chocolate.”
From farm to bar
The majority of Gnaw’s cocoa beans come from three farming areas within Colombia, where the company works with suppliers and farmers to build a more sustainable supply chain. Not only has Gnaw adopted fair wage schemes to improve the quality of life for farmers, it has partnered with cocoa suppliers that engage farmers and
communities in educational projects that encourage sustainability.
These projects focus on farming methods that increase biodiversity and the use of agroforestry. Gnaw and its suppliers are working to promote sustainable cocoa production and preserve endangered habitats, whilst minimising environmental impacts.
“The owners of Gnaw have personally met with our cocoa farmers on multiple occasions,” explained Mr Navarro. “This dedication to sustainably sourced choco -
late runs through every layer of the company. Building these relationships across the supply chain is what will allow us to work together to create a more environmentally conscious future for chocolate.”
As well as focusing on the sustainable sourcing of ingredients, Gnaw has been working to improve environmental measures within its own practices. In 2022, Gnaw installed solar panels to its rooftops, generating over 130,000kWh of renewable energy annually.
Now, 70% of Gnaw’s products are made using clean energy and this number is only set to increase. As the company grows, it plans to utilise more renewable energy and improve the efficiency of processes.
The final stage of the product’s journey is the inspiration for the initial stage…the consumer. 99% of Gnaw’s chocolate is wrapped without plastic and all packaging is either home-compostable or kerbside recyclable. This makes sustainable waste
disposal accessible and convenient for consumers, thus encouraging the practice.
Gnaw’s packaging uses FSC certified materials with vegetable-based inks on the larger bars of chocolate, which are wrapped with wood pulp Natureflex foil, the world's first certified garden compostable foil.
Mixing people together
Gnaw is continuously looking for ways in which it can have a positive impact on the world. The company manufactures products at its headquarters in Norwich, reducing transport emissions and supporting the local economy. It is also working to expand this positive reach outside of the UK and is
working with suppliers to support the decarbonisation of the chocolate industry.
“It is important that the values of our suppliers align with our own,” explained Mr Navarro. “We make sure to evaluate the sustainability and ethical standards of
everyone we partner with, ensuring that we are working towards a common goal.
“By nurturing and maintaining these partnerships, we are able to support each other in becoming more sustainable and can withstand the industry’s challenges. Recently there have been some difficulties within the cocoa business, we have supported our partners in this and they have supported us in return. This reciprocity is the key to success.”
The company also has an internal source of encouragement through its employees. Every member of staff at Gnaw has a passion for sustainably made chocolate, reinforcing the positive environmental impact of the company. Gnaw’s dedicated team of talented chocolatiers and staff not only strive to protect the environment, but
to create new and innovative flavours that drive the company’s success and sustainable chocolate forward in the market.
Unwrapping new creations
Gnaw is currently in the process of completely revolutionising its chocolate portfolio with new flavours, products and packaging. The company is developing innovative flavours such as New York cheesecake, raspberry mojito, popcorn and peanut, sticky toffee pudding and Seville orange. All these flavours have been created with the aim of delivering new chocolate experiences to customers, taking them from the US to Spain in just a couple of bites.
The company is also developing hot chocolate spoons to include a rich, gooey centre that melts into the drink, with flavours ranging from a classic hazelnut to Bakewell tart. As well as this, Gnaw is working on a new product: mocha melts. These are chocolate melts filled with a decadent gooey centre, made to melt into coffee and transform a good coffee it into a luxuriously flavoured, great mocha drink.
Another new product the company has been working on is chocolate hearts. These will be topped with fruits such as raspberries, strawberries and blackberries or nuts such as pecans, pistachios and hazelnuts and are a new way to spread love all year round. The hearts make perfect gifts, meaning Gnaw’s sustainable chocolate can reach more people.
“I’m a complete foodie, so I’m really passionate about the products and flavours we’re creating here at Gnaw,”
said Mr Navarro. “My team and I have been researching trends, not just in chocolate, but the greater food and drink market. This means that we can develop flavours that will really resonate with consumers. We have received great feedback so far, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone’s reactions.”
Gnaw hopes to see these new innovations reach the market this summer, alongside reinvented packaging designs. All of the new designs aim to capture the feelings
Managing Director, Mike Navarro
evoked by each particular chocolate flavour and present them visually. By reimagining packaging design, Gnaw aims to create a fully immersive chocolate experience for consumers.
“At Gnaw, we get to bring happiness to people every day through our products,” said Mr Navarro in conclusion. “It is so rewarding not only to be serving people, but to be supporting the environment in the process. I am really excited to see what the future holds for Gnaw.” n
