Your Pitch... With Era’s Chocolate

Your Pitch is an opportunity for start-ups to tell everyone about their business. This issue we meet Ermes Giummarresi, founder of Era’s Chocolate, an Italian artisan bakery inspired from his childhood in Sicily.

Tell us about your business – sell yourself!

I am an Italian trained pasty and sous chef with a passion for all things beautiful; I developed Era’s Chocolate in 2018. It is an Italian Artisan Bakery based in Sheffield selling the finest of cakes and pastries. I like to evoke all the human senses for those who buy my cakes, the look of the cake is as important as the taste. I use the finest of ingredients; all cakes and pastries can be customised according to the taste and food tolerances with all of the cakes being Gluten Free.

I cater for events such as parties and weddings and I am able to work creatively with customer’s requirements. I also sell my cakes at local Artisan markets in Sheffield, Derbyshire and Manchester.

What gave you the idea for your business?

With plenty of competition amongst the supermarkets and chain cafes selling cakes, I wanted to create something unique. I had been creating desserts in restaurants I worked in and had gained in expertise and I knew I was ready to develop something of my own. Era’s Chocolate was inspired from my childhood in Sicily and time spent with my grandmother who was my inspiration for the business.

Who are your customers and how are you targeting them?

My customers vary from those that may purchase from an Artisan market as a one off to returning customers who regularly place orders for themselves. I have also got a number of loyal customers who require large orders for events they are hosting and who want to have a dessert that is unique from anything that can be purchased in the shops.