Easter Eggs: Behind the scenes at Ely’s change-making chocolate factory

Eat an Easter egg from Ely social enterprise Harry Specters and you’re not only treating yourself, you’re doing a little good in the world. . .

Founded to create both top-quality chocolate and opportunities for autistic people, social enterprise Harry Specters has gone from bright idea to brilliant business in little over a decade. Alice Ryan visits its Ely HQ

Open the front door of the Harry Specters factory in Ely and your nose confirms you’re in the right place. The air is warm with wafts of tempering chocolate, creamy ganache and sugary caramel: it’s just delicious.

If you’re new to the brand, a quick introduction. Harry Specters was founded in 2012 by Mona and Shaz Shah, who wanted to build a business that could offer experience and employment to their son, Ash, who is autistic, and others like him.

Since then, it has provided both training and jobs to dozens of autistic people, won a cabinetful of Great Taste stars and Academy of Chocolate medals and, in 2024, was presented with The King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity.

“Honestly? I wish we’d achieved more! World domination is still the goal,” laughs Mona, busily sponge-painting Easter egg moulds with a spirulina-tinted blue cocoa butter. “The people who work here prove how much autistic people have to give.”

Making more than 1,000 large boxed eggs every Easter, 300 of those in bestselling flavour Caramel, the production line is a well-oiled machine. Moulds are artfully painted and chocolate tempered. Once filled and clipped tightly closed, the moulds are then attached to a mechanical spinner, which ensures shells are even in thickness. Refrigerated until set and satisfyingly shiny, each egg is finally popped out of its mould and into a jolly box.

The team also produce mini eggs, themed lollipops, solid shapes and seasonal selection boxes of their signature Chocolates - fan-favourite flavours include Sea Salt Caramel (a 40% milk chocolate caramel made with Muscovado sugar and smoked sea salt), Mango & Raspberry (60% dark mango and raspberry puree ganache) and Vanilla & Coconut (40% milk coconut cream infused with vanilla).

Winner of Aldi’s Next Big Thing, 2022’s televised search for new supermarket suppliers, today Harry Specters sells through select stockists, such as Daily Bread in Cambridge, and via its webshop, where you can also sign up for a Chocolate Club subscription - choose from a box of nine, 12 or 16 chocs delivered monthly to your door (from £15).

While Mona works on the eggs, Shaz is making filled chocolates with the help of an incredible Wonka-style machine that simultaneously pipes shell and centre - cutting out numerous time-consuming steps and capable of producing a staggering 10,000 individual sweets per day.

Joseph, who’s worked at the factory since 2019, is prepping chocolate moulds with screen-printed cocoa butter sheets. Cut to fit the bottom of each indent, so they’ll appear on top of the turned out chocolate, these prints are a calling-card for Harry Specters, who regularly make bespoke and branded versions for corporate clients, ranging from Cambridge’s own Grand Arcade to British Airways, for whom they provide First Class lounge sampling, gifting and experiences.

With staff numbers ranging from six to 11, depending on time of year and workload, Mona is always innovating. Hers is the creative and clever palate behind the brand’s umpteen award-winning flavours, and her latest project is a line of 70% dark functional bars; poised for launch, they include Zen Bliss (with matcha and sesame) and Forest Feast (featuring reishi and lion’s mane mushrooms).

“Being able to be creative is a big part of the satisfaction for me,” says Mona. “That and seeing the team enjoying their work. Ash comes in three times a week now and demoulding chocolates is still his favourite thing; if he comes in and the fridges are full, he’s so happy.” It was Ash, by the way, who came up with the Harry Specters name.

With the chocolate ethically sourced and sustainably farmed (bought from companies which work directly with the Ivory Coast cocoa growers) and all the cardboard packaging recyclable (eminently giftable, it’s designed by Ash’s sister Mina, a graphic designer), Harry Specters is the definition of a feelgood treat. All the recipes are gluten-free and there are vegan options.

“This business is about two things: making really, really good chocolate and creating much-needed opportunities in the process,” adds Mona. “That’s what we’re doing! But, as I say, I’ll always want to do more - watch this space. . .”

Browse and buy the complete Easter collection, priced from £2.75 for a single pop, at harryschocs.co.uk