Meet the 'Willy Wonka of the North': The former IT consultant who now runs a Leeds-based luxury chocolate business and is competing for a world title
“I was travelling, on my way to see my younger brother, Paul, in Jakarta but I had a stopover in Singapore. I wanted to get an authentic Singapore Sling, which was invented in Raffles Hotel. Sun happened to be there helping someone out and she told me how to get an authentic Singapore Sling. We just clicked straight away, I knew there was chemistry there.” He retuned to SIngapore and the couple lived there for six months before both deciding to make a home in Leeds.
In 2013 the Kirkstall-based business was doing so well that he gave up IT to concentrate on chocolate full-time.Since then the couple have looked back Lauden has received more than 40 industry awards and until the pandemic was supplying the likes of British Airways First Class as well as scores of Michelin-starred restaurants. The pandemic took its toll, however, as travel and hospitality were the first to be hit.
"It is massive commitment both in terms of time and money and it is difficult when you are also running a business. But I am so proud to be representing the UK and Ireland. My dad was from England my mum Ireland and so I feel like I am representing them both."His father, who sadly died five years ago, features heavily in Trigg’s work for the Chocolate Masters.
"There is so much to do. We are hiring a van as we have to take all the measured ingredients with us and it needs to be temperature controlled. We are staying three nights in an AirBNB before the start of the competition to make sure everything arrives. I was worried how I was going to get fresh strawberries toHe has launched a Go Fund Me campaign to help with the estimated £20,000 costs of taking part.