Bare Bones Chocolate

Bare Bones Chocolate is run by two founders, Cameron and Lara, who came to chocolate from unrelated careers: Cameron worked as a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry, and Lara was a food photographer and chef who had worked with chefs and food producers in London. Operating from a railway arch in central Glasgow, they make chocolate in small batches of around 30 kilograms at a time, roasting cacao on a modified coffee roaster adapted for the purpose rather than standard chocolate-industry equipment. Their bars are made without soya lecithin, added vegetable fats, or other industrial additives, a stripped-back approach reflected in the 'Bare Bones' name. The business also carries an explicit sustainability angle in its packaging: boxes are made from recycled paper coffee cups, wrappers are plant-based material sourced from Vegware, and all packaging is designed to be recyclable or compostable, sourced within the UK. The chocolate has been recognized by the Academy of Chocolate's awards, and chef Rick Stein has been quoted praising it directly on the company's own materials.