A Spitalfields Christmas

A Spitalfields Christmas

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” Hmmm? At Montezuma’s Spitalfields store that quote might not be the most accurate, but I would definitely call it the busiest and most fun time of our chocolate year.

We start talking about Christmas in August, which always feels super early when the sun is still shining, until we compile our huge ‘to do’ list and remember how much there is to plan and organise! Over the Christmas period we will sell over 160 hampers, 800 bar libraries and 250 DIY truffle boxes, all needing the stock to be pre-ordered and made up in advance. Alongside this we sell hundreds of everything cute and Christmas shaped, starting with our ever-popular advent calendars. Our regulars know to snap these up early, alongside our new truffle filled baubles, in time for when the trees get brought home.

It’s a monumental feat of planning to fit all the stock into our cosy stockroom, but once we’ve received the first wave of stock we can take down Halloween and start to deck the halls. With the nights drawing in our tree sparkles with our gorgeous baubles and we work like elves to ensure all the gifts are perfectly displayed around the shop. We don’t forget to pile high our best selling button bags and chocolate bars necessary for filling stockings, although I think our dollops are the best stocking size treat (I’m asking Santa for the grapefruit and ginger ones!)

With the shop ready to go it’s time to call in the team for an evening of everything festive. Here we get to learn about the new range so we know our Penguin from our Robin (hampers!) and get to try the limited edition festive flavours (it’s a tough job, marzipan stollen anyone?). As well as trying to prepare the newer staff for how busy it’s going to get, ensuring they’re all able to deliver the best service even when there’s a sea of customers and the queue is snaking outside the door (trick: plenty of tasters on offer).

By the time December arrives we are ready to go. Now we can put on the Christmas music and get jingle bell rocking across all of our stores! It gets progressively busier as we help people tick off their shopping lists and start to sell out of popular products. The 24th is the best day, with everyone in a great mood and only one sleep to go, we close a little earlier to share a quick festive drink before going home for our own chocolate-filled Christmas.

Team Favourites:

Carly- Snowmen (with ganache centre)

Elisa- Ginger orange drinking choc

Kinda- Stollen (loves praline centre)

Steph- Orange nutmeg truffle

Halima- Peanut butter snowballs

Mat- Maple walnut truffle

Jordan- Salted caramel snowballs

Alexia- Stollen

a spitalfields christmas

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