Former Savoy pastry chef buys Chocolate Society

A former Savoy pastry chef has bought one of London’s best known chocolate retailers, The Chocolate Society.

William Curley and his wife Suzue Aoyama, owners of chocolate shop and patisserie William Curley in Richmond, south London, have taken over the Chocolate Society and its two central London stores located in Mayfair and Belgravia.

While the two shops may be rebranded as part of the takeover, Curley said he wanted to retain the Chocolate Society name.

“We want to hold on to the Chocolate Society brand values as it is a very well known name,” he said.

“But we do want to extend its offering and plan to bring our patisserie to the central London stores.”

The Chocolate Society was founded in 1990 with the aim to draw attention to the difference between fine chocolate and the confection consumed by the mass market.

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By Kerstin Kühn

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