A Salford chocolatier looking ahead to 2021 fears Brexit more than Covid-19 – especially if the UK crashes out of Europe without a deal.
R&M Fine Chocolates, in Singleton Road, says tariffs on its imported ingredients could damage the business more than the pandemic.
Owner and head chocolatier Raanan Malkin, who founded the business in 2015, said: “From 1st January, our ingredients price will go up from 8 per cent to 20 per cent due to customs duty.”
He said Covid-19 isn’t something in the long run that will have the biggest effects on his business, rather Brexit is going to have the greatest impact.
Facebook groups have become the main source for advertisement and selling of his hand-made chocolates during lockdown.
He said: “Business stopped at the first lockdown and we needed to change the way we work. The world chocolate ‘community’ help us stay positive.”
Back in June 2016, 51.9 per cent of the UK voted to leave the European Union, and in Salford alone the vote, to leave was 56.8 per cent.