The scissors don't cut, the shoes can't be worn and you can't make a call on the iPhone... but you can take a bite. Believe it or not the lifelike objects are crafted out of chocolate.
You've heard the joke about a chocolate teapot? Well, the Amazing Chocolate Workshop's ornate creation can actually be filled with liquid but they say be quick as they can't promise it won't melt.
Everyday items such as cars, lipstick and spanners are the work of the Amazing Chocolate Workshop, based on an industrial estate in Blidworth. The business, started by Ed Starr and Damien Toms in 2014, has turned virtually any object you can think of into a spectacular chocolate masterpiece.
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The duo have made it through to the regional finals of the Farm Shop & Deli Show's 2022 Retailer Awards, which will be announced at the NEC Birmingham on Monday, April 25. The only finalist in Notts to make the cut, they are up against seven other businesses in the Midlands including the estate farm shop at Chatsworth in Derbyshire.
They never fail to amaze with their creations. Their gift boxes are themed around musical instruments, medical kits, money and children's toys. Food items such as eggs, sausages, cheese and pasta mess with the mind.
Designed by Ed and Damien, the items are exclusively made by a chocolatier in Italy. Vegan-friendly fine-grade chocolate, made from some of the world’s best cocoa beans, is used.
What started as a hobby turned into a full-time career when they quit their jobs and took the plunge. After starting out at small craft events and markets they expanded the range and are regularly on the road taking their crazy chocolate creations all over the country.
"We love the reaction our chocolate gets when people see it for the first time. It constantly spurs us on to keep adding new amazing creations to our range, so we can keep on surprising people every time they see us," they said.
The Amazing Chocolate Workshop was amongst hundreds of entries whittled down to 51 finalists across the UK by a panel of esteemed judges, who took into consideration the ways in which retailers have adapted and evolved their businesses to demonstrate innovation and sustainability after an unprecedented 18 months.
