Insider Media Limited

A young entrepreneur from South Staffordshire has begun exporting his products to the US after receiving help from UK Trade and Investment. Louis Barnett, who set up his high-quality chocolate company when he was just 12, has signed a deal with a New York-based firm to supply his Chokolit bars.

Barnett was named as the UK’s youngest entrepreneur when, seven years ago, he set up Chokolit. The company makes high quality chocolate for specialist food shops, delicatessens and other retail outlets. The family-run business has five employees, including his parents, Phil and Mary.

A year ago, the company had to reduce its workforce by half as demand dropped in the UK but it is now fighting back with new products. These include the environmentally friendly Biting Back bars, which are free from artificial colours, flavours and additives.

The Kinver-based company has signed a deal to supply a US distributor with 37,000 bars of chocolate after exhibiting the range of treats at the Fancy Fine Food Fair in New York in June.

Barnett, now 19, received financial support from UKTI and help through an Overseas Market Introduction Service.

He said: "The OMIS report was excellent - it gave us lots of useful information on the marketplace and listed many potential partners. We contacted about 20 distributors and have now reached an agreement with one and are in discussion with several others.

"In addition, we benefited from a free return flight from British Airways through a partnership with UKTI and have had excellent advice and support from our local international trade adviser, Maggie Neale.

"By this time next year, I anticipate that about 70 per cent of our sales will be to overseas markets. We have just negotiated to send out a pallet load of chocolates to a distributor in New Zealand and are also targeting Spain, Portugal and India."