Have you ever dreamed of becoming a chocolatier? Discover how you can turn cacao fantasy into reality.

Imagine turning your all-consuming love of cacao into a full-time career. That’s the appeal of working with chocolate and why we think we have the best jobs in the world at Hotel Chocolat. Whatever your skillset or passion, there’s a role for you — from product designers and chocolate sculptors to chocolate testers and, of course, chocolatiers. And, best of all, anyone can do it. All you need is passion and creativity, a meticulous eye for detail and a fierce commitment to creating the best chocolates in the world.

Are you tempted by one of the many jobs in chocolate? We’ve unwrapped the skills and talents you need to make a success of a career in cacao.  

Why work in the wonderful world of chocolate?

Working in chocolate means spending every minute thinking, breathing, smelling and tasting chocolate. You’ll be the first to hear about exciting developments or new flavour pairings. And an astonishing world of product tastings, festivals and events will open up for you to lose yourself in.

Chocolate jobs create a feast for all the senses, from the sight and smell of molten chocolate to bold and exciting new flavours. What could be more satisfying than creating the perfect flavour profile? If you love chocolate’s aroma, texture, and mouth feel, you’re well on the way to being a successful chocolatier.

Perfect chocolate is all about attention to detail. You can play with ingredients, tempering, moulding, and flavours to craft the most satisfying artisan Slabs and Batons. And you’ll have the buzz of seeing your recipes flying off the shelves.

Imagine a work environment that’s innovative and dynamic, where everyone shares your passion for chocolate. The best thing about chocolate jobs is that they don’t feel like work. After all, job satisfaction is something we all crave — and once you find your ideal cacao career, you’ll never work another day in your life.

What jobs are available in the chocolate industry?

If being the next Willy Wonka isn’t for you, there are career opportunities in science, marketing, academia and more. Imagine creating sumptuous and elegant packaging or spending days researching the history of cacao. How about diving deep into the molecular structure of chocolate?

Here’s just a small selection of the delectable jobs in chocolate that are available.

Embrace your creativity as a chocolate product designer

Can you think of anything better than spending your days playing with chocolate? That’s the beauty of being a product designer. Let your imagination loose, and you’ll find good ideas can come from anywhere. A childhood memory or an incredible newly-discovered cacao bean might inspire you. Being a product designer gives you the freedom to experiment and come up with the next bestselling bar.

You could work behind the scenes as a food scientist building the next generation of slabs, bars and batons. Or flex your design muscles with brilliant packaging that makes your products fly off the shelves. It’s your chance to influence the taste buds of a generation and create tomorrow’s chocolate today.

Get technical in chocolate manufacture

Are you fascinated by the mechanics of chocolate production? Then, get technical with a job in chocolate manufacturing. It’s a job for a true chocolate geek who loves getting to the molecular level of Theobroma Cacao.

There’s more to the perfect bar than flavour alone. Creating chocolate is a complex process. Cacao beans must be roasted, conched and tempered precisely to develop the correct mouthfeel. Manufacturing the perfect bar requires a scientific understanding of chocolate and forensic attention to detail.

You’ll help to scale production so every product meets the same standards for quality, taste and appearance. And you’ll be at the forefront of breakthroughs in chocolate production technology and innovation.

Retail: work in a delectable chocolate shop

We might be biased, but is there anything better than working in a chocolate shop? If you have an eye for aesthetics and good people skills, this could be the job in chocolate for you.

From the moment you open the doors to the delectable perfume of cacao to cashing up at night, you’re an indispensable link in the chocolate chain. After all, without our chain of shops, how else could we bring Hotel Chocolat to the world? You’ll be responsible for organising store displays, delivering tasting sessions and guiding your customers to find old favourites and embrace new flavour profiles with our Sleeksters and Selectors.

Of course, working in a chocolate shop requires industrial quantities of willpower not to eat the profits. And you’ll be rushed off your feet at Valentine’s, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. But chocolate jobs in retail are hands down one of the nicest ways to share your passion for fine chocolate with other people.

Be hands-on as a chocolatier or chocolate sculptor

Doesn’t everyone dream of being Willy Wonka? In the real world, being a chocolatier is the chance to put your signature on featherlight truffles, single-origin batons and delectable designer slabs.

Chocolatiers don’t farm cacao beans. It’s their job to get hands-on with them after harvest and unlock every nuance of the flavour profile. The chocolatier’s job is to experiment with 85% dark or 65% supermilk for the best batons. Or how to craft a hot chocolate flake with the perfect melt and mouthfeel.

A chocolatier is a wizard with flavour and aroma. But a chocolate sculptor can give your wildest chocolate fantasies a 3D form. You’ll take chunks of chocolate and unlock their inner beauty. You could work on a massive Hollywood-style centrepiece or a series of mini masterpieces. If you can imagine it, a sculptor can make magic from a solid slab of chocolate.

The tasty side: become a chocolate tester

Dream job alert! If you want the tastiest job in chocolate, become a tester. Master chocolate testers are involved at every stage of production, from the bean to the finished bar. You’ll need an incredibly sophisticated palate and exceptional intuition to understand the interplay of flavours and aromas.

If you’re interested in perfecting flavours, an interest in the culinary arts definitely helps. Whereas if you’re interested in the complex way flavours interact, you’ll come from a more scientific background.

As a chocolate tester, you’ll evaluate the entire cacao experience, from unwrapping a truffle to how it melts in your mouth. You’ll need a high level of expertise to research, taste and curate different products. And though there are no formal qualifications, you’ll need an impeccable nose and palate to succeed.   

What skills do you need for a job in chocolate?

Working in chocolate might seem like a dream job (it is), but you still need to approach it like any other career. You’ll need qualifications, experience, and a love of what you’re doing – which shouldn’t be challenging when working with something as luscious as cacao.

Passion and creativity

It’s impossible to be successful at something you’re not passionate about. And being creative is fundamental if you want to succeed in creating fabulous new recipes. These are the qualities that drive successful chocolatiers.

Before you approach a career in chocolate, ask yourself whether you eat chocolate or savour every sensation. Do you scoff the lot in a few seconds or take the time to enjoy the mouthfeel and consistency, inhale the aroma and linger over every nuance of flavour? If you relish every last morsel of a bar, you could have what it takes to make a successful career in chocolate.

A love of chocolate

A love of chocolate is essential — but not for the reason you might think. Most chocolate jobs require you to eat, sleep and live chocolate. You could get bored quite quickly if you’re not a complete chocolate geek.

On the other hand, if you’re a chocoholic with an intrinsic love of cacao, there’s nothing to stop you from rising up the ranks to be a master chocolatier. You’ll have the commitment and drive to push the boundaries of what chocolate can be. Just learn to exercise some restraint — or get a job as a chocolate taster or sommelier where you can sample to your heart’s content.

Attention to detail

Whether you’re a product designer or a chocolatier, attention to detail is absolutely crucial. The slightest deviations in storage, tempering or ingredients can spell disaster. You’ll also need to pass your critical eye over each batch of chocolates to ensure they look identical.

It doesn’t matter whether you produce small-batch artisan bars or mass-produced chocolates. You’ll need the same commitment to quality and great results.

Specialist training

The surefire way to get that job in chocolate is to get some specialist training under your belt. You could earn a degree in food technology or get some baking experience behind you. Seek out specialist courses in chocolate tempering or try one of our bespoke chocolate-tasting experiences.

If you have what it takes to make it in the chocolate industry, specialist training will take you through different roles and tasks. With that invaluable experience behind you, you’re ready to step up to one of the ultimate jobs in chocolate — becoming a chocolatier.

The ultimate career in chocolate: how to become a chocolatier

At Hotel Chocolat, our chocolatiers are among the best in the world. Dedicated and passionate about all things cacao-related, they’re the secret to our success. If you want to know how to become a chocolatier, you’ll need drive, artistry and passion for all things cacao.

So, what is a chocolatier? According to the Institut Culinaire de France, a chocolatier makes and sells confectionery made from chocolate. But that bland description doesn’t approach the skill and commitment every chocolatier needs to transform the humble cacao bean into delectable chocolates.

Our chocolatiers are true artisans who oversee the meticulous process of tempering, blending, moulding and enrobing our chocolates. They push the boundaries by experimenting with texture and flavour, refining old favourites and creating new contemporary classics. Above all, chocolatiers know that artistry is all about striking a balance between innovation and tradition.

To become a chocolatier in the UK, you’ll need a passion for the craft, formal training and hands-on experience. A culinary background is optional, but it provides a solid foundation. As well as specialist chocolate courses, some established chocolatiers offer hands-on apprenticeships where you’ll truly appreciate the nuances of working with cacao.

But, above all, you’ll need the drive for perfection and a penchant for creativity that lets you create chocolates that delight the eye and taste buds. 

Career opportunities at Hotel Chocolat

Our mission is to make people happy through chocolate. So why not be a part of our ethical and innovative chocolate company? We have chocolate jobs in retail, manufacturing and throughout the supply chain. Become part of our creative team, and you’ll always be passionate about going to work.

Spark your cacao passion with treats from Hotel Chocolat

Next time you fancy your favourite cacao treat, remember the passion and creativity our chocolatiers put into making it for you. No matter if you adore our patisserie chocolates or love to treat yourself to your favourite Selector, let our treats spark your cacao passion.

And if you’re serious about working in the world of chocolate, keep trying. Starting your chocolate story might take months or years, but it’ll be worth the wait!