A BRIEF HISTORY
From the start of Hardy & Co. in 1990, Charles and Sandra have produced a range of excellent continental truffles and other chocolate products under their Freudenberg brand.
Charles is the third generation of his family to be involved in the confectionery industry. Like his father and grandfather before him, Charles was a director of Squirrel Horn PLC based in Stockport.
In 1994 Hardy & Co. expanded from purely wholesaling into retailing with the opening of the Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop at No. 54 High Street, Tarporley and the Chocolate Box at Blakemere Craft Centre, Sandiway. In 2002 No. 39 Castle Street, Llangollen was purchased and opened as The Old Tailors Chocolate Shop.
Since 1994 the business has grown rapidly and has often been featured on television and radio.
In 2006 No. 52 High Street, Tarporley was purchased, which is double in size to No. 54 enbling the Fire Station Chocolate Shop to offer an extensive range of Freudenberg chocolates, traditional confectionery, Cheshire farm made scoop ice cream, greeting cards and a wide range of gifts, foil and latex balloons.
No. 54 was converted into a coffee shop in the Spring of 2007 and now offers home made soup, sandwiches and paninis, a full range of freshly made coffees, hot chocolate and teas and delicious home made cakes and pastries.
The yard at the back of the coffee shop opened in the summer of 2007 and has been very popular with customers who wish for a quiet outside area that catches the afternoon sun off the busy High Street.
