Feature
Issue No. 38 - December/January 07/08
Reversal of fortune
Taking out several awards in the Premier’s Food Awards and SA Great Awards in 2006 and 2007 shows how dedication to workforce development pays big dividends says Cocolat entrepreneur, Terena Blanton-Downs.
After Terena put a struggling Adelaide Hills cake shop through a startling turnaround, Cocolat now comprises several cafe retail outlets served by a commercial kitchen at Balhannah.
“We really strive to have a good balance within the company so all of the business elements excel,” Terena says.
“Most people go into the shops and they love them and they love the product and then assume it’s a great business.
“The public never see the hard work, passion, sleepless nights and even tears that go into any business that you truly love.”
Cocolat has also been recognised as a presence in the Adelaide Hills where most of the kitchen staff live.
“In our production kitchen we also do contract work for other companies. While working in the regional areas of South Australia we saw a great need to help small fruit and nut growers value add to their product,” Terena says.
“Typically if a small almond grower would like to have their product ‘panned’ (chocolate covered) they would need large quantities to have a large company do the work. To many growers this is not reality.”
Cocolat won a Regional Food Processing grant to set up a new project, which got up and running at the end of November.
“This is a whole new income stream for Cocolat, with a huge demand,” Terena says.
“Introducing our crepe product line at Rundle Street last December was a great addition to our menu. It was a good way to offer savory products and stay within the dessert café atmosphere that we have.”
Terena says business plans have to leave room for these kinds of quick initiatives.
“When Coco Bean Pty Ltd (Trading as Cocolat) came into being the main growth driver was vision: how t...
