AN ARTISAN chocolate maker has ambitious plans to expand her fledgling business.

Kelsey Anderson set up her Kacao Chocolaterie business near Scotch Corner two years ago and has established a reputation for luxury handmade chocolate gifts.

Miss Anderson had been working as an assistant manager in a Costa Coffee shop but decided to take the big step and launch her business in 2014.

Her chocolate is now available in a number of local independent retailers, including Brookes deli and farm shop in Darlington Road, Richmond.

The former pupil of Richmond School told local MP Rishi Sunak how she plans to find more outlets for her chocolate and is to revamp the packaging to incorporate a barcode required by larger retailers.

During his visit to the business at Sedbury Hall Stables, just off the A66, Mr Sunak heard how Miss Anderson had grown the business and now employed a full-time chocolate maker, Annalee Coverdale, to help meet demand.

Where possible she uses local suppliers for ingredients, like Acorn Dairy for milk and Katie’s Kitchen Preserves of Scorton. Her chocolate was Fairtrade sourced from Belgium or Venezuela.

Mr Sunak said: "I was very impressed with how Kelsey has established the business from scratch and to hear of her plans for the future."

He also met Keith Morton, who manages the Brookes deli shop which has stocked the chocolate since opening in 2015.

He said: "It is one of our best-selling lines. It is a niche product but very popular nevertheless."