Yasmin Coe and the team at Murrumbateman Chocolate Co. Photo: Tenele Conway.
There’s one key detail that strikes you when you walk through the door of The Murrumbateman Chocolate Co. It’s not the sweet smell of handmade chocolates; it’s not the clean, modern layout where beautiful packaging envelopes equally beautiful products.
Instead, the most striking thing is the determined smile on owner Yasmin Coe’s face.
It’s the smile of a woman who has taken a significant risk to build a business and is now in the position of strategically shaping that business and her family’s lives for the future.
It’s been more than 20 years since Yasmin began dabbling in chocolate. Originally a hobby turned side hustle, two years ago, Yasmin was able to step away from her accounting role in the public service and take her talent for chocolatiering full time by opening a shop front for her existing chocolate brand, Sweet Pea and Poppy.
That shop front, The Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, on an idyllic rural block of land in Murrumbateman, now houses Yasmin’s whole world, chocolate and otherwise. As a new home for her family, a working chocolate production facility, a hobby farm, a cafe and the place where Yasmin runs her Australia-wide wholesale chocolate distribution business, it’s clear that Yasmin doesn’t do things by halves.
Murrumbateman Chocolate Co’s handmade varieties. Photo: Tenele Conway.
On the precipice of the second anniversary of the Murrumbateman Chocolate Co, Yasmin reflects on the past while looking to the future.
“The last two years have been about refining our processes, finding efficiencies and setting the team up to be successful in an e-commerce environment. We’re now going to take all of that groundwork so we can scale up the business for the future.” Yasmin tells Region.
Yasmin’s team of nine employees grew organically over the last two years, and by sheer happenstance, it’s all female. Leading young women to successful futures is something Yasmin takes seriously.
“My team drives everything. They are talented, switched-on, capable young women, but I know they won’t be with me forever. We’re being strategic about their futures, and together, we’re finding their passions and interests and building those into their roles so they can take that experience to grow their careers.” Yasmin says. The pride in her team is evident in the tone of her voice.
Yasmin behind the counter at the Murrumbateman Chocolate Co. Photo: Tenele Conway.
It’s Yasmin’s natural desire to champion others that has led her to partner with other producers in the Murrumbateman area.
“Murrumbateman is such a collaborative place. The producers here really see the benefits of working together to build a strong local economy. Our latest collaboration is with Clonakilla Wines. We’re making an exclusive muscat chocolate that celebrates their rare muscat wine and our artisan chocolate. It’s the perfect pairing of flavours,” says Yasmin.
Perusing the variety of chocolate flavours on offer, the amalgamation of those partnerships with her natural creativity is at the heart of what Yasmin does at the Murrumbateman Chocolate Co.
The counter is lined with rows of Yasmin’s handmade chocolates, each one perfectly formed and featuring flavours such as Rosé Gin, featuring gin from the nearby Four Winds Vineyard; Fig and Vanilla, using produce from a Yass Valley orchard; Hundred Acres Produce;
If you prefer chocolate turtles to chocolate frogs, they’ve got you covered. Photo: Tenele Conway.
Over the last two years, the number one question Yasmin has been asked is, “Can I do a chocolate class?” In her entrepreneurial spirit, Yasmin will be meeting that demand by launching a hands-on chocolate experience in the next few months. Participants will get a peek behind the scenes at the life of a chocolatier and be able to craft their own chocolates to take home and enjoy.
The Murrumbateman Chocolate Company is located at 1153 Nanima Rd, Murrumbateman. They are open Thursday to Saturday from 11 am until 4 pm or order through their website 24/7. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram to find out when their new hands-on experience launches.
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