Poppy’s choc full of ideas for a Dragons’ Den business
TALENTED Poppy Calder-Thomson has gone into business making posh chocolates aged just nine – and has shopkeepers knocking down her door to stock them.
Poppy, who has Down’s Syndrome, is the creative director of Poppalooma’s Chocolate Emporium.
Proud mum June, who oversees the manufacturing, says the chocs are so delicious they would make TV’s Dragons’ Den entrepreneurs melt.
Poppy’s unusual flavour combos include pineapple, mint and cherry and honeyblossom and marshmallow.
June said: “I just go with it. The worst that can happen is we have a batch of chocolates that we get to eat.
“She’ll be on Dragons’ Den – she thinks she deserves to be famous.”
The business started off as a hobby so Poppy could learn skills to help her find work when she’s older, including weighing ingredients and cleaning the kitchen at home in Fettercairn,Aberdeenshire.
Most of the chocolate was given to family and friends until Poppy said she wanted to sell some for charity.
June said: “She saw a homeless person and we had a few conversations about that and how we’re lucky as she doesn’t want for anything. She said, ‘I want to sell our chocolate and I want the money to go to people who haven’t got anything’.”
Then local businesses heard about the chocs and approached the pair.
Now Poppy loves delivering them – especially to the nearby What’s for Tea Tonight? farm shop, where she gets to catch up with owner Marie Thomson and a few furry friends.
Health and safety inspector June said: “She marches in saying ‘Hello how are you? That’s me dropping off my chocolate again’.
“The business is teaching her the expectation that she will work and contribute to society.”
June was pregnant and had her 12-week scan when she and husband Kevin, 50, found out Poppy had Down’s.
She said: “We did our research and decided to fight for our girl and give her the best chance.”
Poppy has learned sign language to help her communicate but chats away.
June said: “One day she just started talking and has never stopped. We laugh about it and remember when they said she would never talk.
“I have an amazing daughter. She is funny, clever, confident...and the best thing that ever happened to us.”