Sunshine Coast lauds local chocolatier.

Entrepreneurs are easily recognised for their ability to turn small passions into big business. Sunshine Coast based Brigid Woolnough is one such entrepreneur.

A love of chocolate led Brigid to enrol in a six-week chocolatier course in Melbourne. What started as a passion for artisan chocolate quickly grew into a thriving home business - KOKOPOD. After three years of success, demand was so great the burgeoning business needed to expand to commercial premises.

Originally based in North Lakes, Brigid's husband phoned the economic development team at numerous councils on the eastern seaboard, from Byron Bay to Noosa, to see what each region could offer emerging businesses. Brigid attributes Sunshine Coast Council's support as a major reason behind her decision to choose the region.

“The (Sunshine Coast) Council were incredibly supportive and was 80 per cent of the reason we decided to move the family and the business here. Once we had settled in, they sent a specialist business consultant to meet us and learn about our business.

“They were incredibly supportive and genuinely wanted to provide support that would help us to develop (KOKOPOD) and identify future opportunities.

“Sunshine Coast Council offers an array of courses including a fantastic course in becoming export ready - it was invaluable to us. They also introduced us to the Food and Agribusiness Network which turned out to be an incredibly valuable introduction.”

Building connections within the Food and Agribusiness Network prompted a collaboration between KOKOPOD and QCamel Dairy, best known for its innovative approach to freeze drying camel milk.

'Camel Milk Praline' is the first co-branded product to be developed by KOKOPOD.

The current KOKOPOD range has been developed after vigorous consumer testing that sought to identify the true essence of Australian flavours. Brigid doesn’t compromise on quality and selects the best local and Australian produce including Buderim ginger, Queensland macadamia nuts, Tasmanian leatherwood honey, Cooloola Berries freeze dried strawberries and Maleny Dairies cream.

KOKOPOD is now stocked in over 70 stores Australia-wide and is also available in Singapore. Brigid is currently negotiating with international stockists interested in her exclusive Australian made and sourced product.

KOKOPOD has received recognition, with both Gold and Silver medals, from the Australian Fine Foods Awards. Their most lauded achievement to date is a successful partnership with Gate Gourmet, a leading global provider of airline catering and provisioning services to over 170 facilities in 60 countries.

What began as a hobby and not-so-small love of fine chocolate has led to a success greater than Brigid ever imagined.

“Our success to date has been due to a lot of hard work as well as moving to the Sunshine Coast. We have been able to grow as a business because of the support from the Sunshine Coast Council, the Food and Agribusiness Network and programs such as Grow Coastal.

“We feel blessed to have found the Sunshine Coast. People have an emotional experience through chocolate, which comes about from pairing the best chocolate with the best produce and the Sunshine Coast has allowed us to really deliver on that promise.”