A Petrolia chocolatier found some sweet success at the recent International Chocolate Awards.
Jaclyn Sanders, the owner and chef of Guild Chocolates, won a silver medal for her FruiTea bonbons, and a bronze medal for her Fruity Hibiscus bonbons.
Sanders, who makes everything by hand and is only open one day a week, said winning the awards pushes her to try new and exciting combinations and flavours, while also motivating her to become a better chocolatier.
"It really gives fabulous attention to what is really a very, very small business for myself. I'm a one-woman operation with all of my family helping with packaging dishes and lots of long days, late nights, so for me and my very small team, it is pretty awesome to get this recognition and be on the map."
Sanders said she's the primary chocolatier, her dad does all of her packaging, her husband helps with washing dishes and the mould, and that her brother steps up from time-to-time.
Sanders is already finding that she's getting requests for chocolates from pretty far fields.
"I think with these awards, certainly with the more attention that the business is getting, more traffic coming to the shop, I have a feeling that I might be able to bring a few more people onto the team, which would be fabulous," she said. "I would never have gotten this attention if it wasn't for the awards, and it just feels like all of those long, long nights and all of that hard work has certainly been worth it."
Sanders was able to book a spot in the world competition after winning seven awards at the recent Canadian Chocolatier Competition.
Sanders said everything at Guild Chocolate is made with fresh dairy, which means it has a shorter shelf life but tastes much brighter and fresher, and that you have to trek out to Petrolia to try out these treats — the store is open on Saturdays.
