LONDON CHOCOLATE FORUM 2026
NEW SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT: ISOBEL CARSE
Chair of the newly launched Craft Chocolate Makers Association UK & Ireland, Isobel
Carse joins London Chocolate Forum 2026 to explore why collaboration has never been more important for the craft chocolate sector.
T
he London Chocolate Forum 2026 and Kennedy’s team are delighted to announce that Isobel Carse, Owner and Chocolate Maker at Dormouse
Chocolates and current Chair of the Craft Chocolate Makers Association UK & Ireland, will present a keynote panel discussion titled “Why a Craft Chocolate Association?” The session will examine the growing
importance of craft chocolate, the role of industry associations in supporting makers and farmers, and the relationship between the newly formed Craft Chocolate Makers Association UK & Ireland and the European craft chocolate community through its engagement with the European Federation. The discussion will also introduce the Association to a wider industry audience and explore how cooperation, coordination and collective representation can strengthen the sector. Isobel’s journey reflects the evolution of the British craft chocolate movement itself. After working for a larger chocolate company, she discovered a passion for bean-to-bar chocolate and founded Dormouse Chocolates eleven years ago. Through a commitment to sourcing exceptional cacao and producing distinctive, award-winning chocolate, Dormouse quickly gained recognition from both the Academy of Chocolate and the International Chocolate Awards. Today, the company is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the UK’s craft chocolate sector. Recognising that many of the challenges
facing independent makers could not be solved alone, Isobel became part of a group working to establish a dedicated trade body for craft chocolate producers across the UK and Ireland. Their efforts culminated in the launch of the Craft Chocolate Makers Association UK & Ireland in January 2026, creating a collective voice for a growing and increasingly influential segment of the chocolate industry. The timing could not be more significant.
Across Europe and globally, chocolate businesses are grappling with volatile cocoa markets, rising costs, sustainability requirements and increasing consumer demand for transparency. Cocoa prices and supply pressures have reshaped
10 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • JUNE 2026 At the same time, premium chocolate
continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite higher prices. In 2025, premium chocolate manufacturers reported robust sales growth, highlighting consumers’ enduring appetite for high-quality chocolate experiences even amid economic uncertainty and elevated cocoa costs. Yet growth alone does not guarantee a healthy
future for the sector. Craft chocolate makers face common challenges around regulation, education, market access, sourcing, sustainability and consumer awareness. Industry associations play a critical role in helping small and medium-sized businesses share knowledge, develop standards, advocate for their interests and build stronger connections throughout the value chain. “The launch of the Craft Chocolate Makers
ISOBEL HAS BEEN AT THE HEART OF THE UK’S CRAFT CHOCOLATE MOVEMENT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, AND HER PERSPECTIVE ON HOW BUSINESSES CAN WORK
TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN THE SECTOR WILL BE INVALUABLE FOR OUR AUDIENCE
the economics of chocolate production, while consumers are showing a growing willingness to pay for quality, provenance and ethical sourcing. Recent market research estimates the global craft chocolate sector was worth approximately US$14.6 billion in 2025 and is forecast to continue growing strongly over the coming decade, driven by demand for premium products, origin transparency and artisanal production methods.
Association UK & Ireland marks an important milestone for the craft chocolate sector, and we’re delighted to welcome Isobel to London Chocolate Forum 2026 to discuss its vision and ambitions. As the industry faces increasingly complex challenges, collaboration and collective representation have never been more important. Isobel has been at the heart of the UK’s craft chocolate movement for more than a decade, and her perspective on how businesses can work together to strengthen the sector will be invaluable for our audience,” commented Kiran Grewal, Editor, Kennedy’s Confection and Organiser, London Chocolate Forum 2026. This keynote panel promises to be one of
the most timely conversations of the Forum, bringing together perspectives from makers, industry leaders and association representatives to discuss how collaboration can support innovation, resilience and long-term growth. As craft chocolate continues to mature from a niche movement into an established part of the global chocolate landscape, Isobel Carse’s insights will provide a compelling perspective on why working together may be the sector’s greatest opportunity.
Join us at London Chocolate Forum 2026 to hear this important discussion and learn how the next chapter of craft chocolate is being pioneered.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
