North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Kids start up ‘sweet as’ new business
Kiwiana-themed chocolates will soon be available, thanks to a ‘sweet’ new start-up in the Northcote.
ChocTops was founded by Chaye White, 14, Te Awa Marino,12, Kody White,12 and Taora Marino, 8.
Now, the young entrepreneurs have started a Givealittle campaign to raise funds to get their business off the ground.
The money will help to buy the polycarbonate moulds to imprint the designs, as well as packaging supplies and, of course, chocolate.
Founder Te Awa, 12, came up with idea himself one day after school.
‘‘My little brother just loves chocolate, so I thought why not make chocolate instead of buying it?’’
Marketing manager Chaye is in charge of packaging and logos, and says a design showing a tiki taking a bite of chocolate is a possibility.
‘‘We are looking for something unique, but also to bring out the culture and make it Kiwiana.’’
Director of new products Kody is already keen to experiment with new flavours.
‘‘I want to try raspberry and Oreo with a flake inside’’, he says.
Parents and mentors Bevan Marino and Gail White have been supportive of their children’s initiative. They acknowledge that, as members of a state housing community, the children are more ‘‘at risk’’.
Ideally, ChocTops sees itself as an ongoing community business venture where the businss passes on to younger community kids after the original four turn 18 and step down.
Marino says ChocTops is a way to help the kids think ‘‘above their situation’’.
‘‘To teach them to think outside the square, give them goals, and good skills for the future.’’
‘‘These kids have taken the initiative to help themselves. To have a good goal and stay on the right path, who knows where it will go,’’ White says.
Northcote Intermediate’s deputy principal Jo Deerness says she is really proud of the kids because the idea is ‘‘totally off their own back’’.
‘‘There is a real level of humility and humbleness of what they are doing. Their keenness comes from a good place. They just want to learn and do something to help their community.’’
Contact choctops@outlook.co.nz.
Donate to givealittle.co.nz/ cause/choctops