RAVE reviews from connoisseurs of fine chocolate are giving Tracy Atherley the sweet taste of success.

Ms Atherley has launched Choc-la-te in Westhoughton town centre and has given up her job as the manager of a sheltered housing complex in Halliwell, Bolton, to concentrate on her venture full time.

The 45-year-old opened the shop in Market Street backed by her mother, Jean Coban, and was visited by Bolton West MP Julie Hilling at the official opening ceremony, as well as many local well-wishers.

Ms Atherley took a stall on Westhoughton Market when she first started making her own brand of chocolate two years ago.

She did some market research, including taster sessions in local pubs and other outlets, and regards feedback from people who try her chocolate as a good thing for her business.

“I am always interested in what people have to say about my chocolate,” said Ms Atherley. “Feedback is always valuable when refining a chocolate recipe. Thankfully, I have had a lot of help on Facebook, and I managed to get 11 five-star reviews so far, which is very pleasing.

“I am dependent on the chocolate being of very high quality, because I cannot compete with the mass manufacturers of chocolate on price.

“But people are prepared to pay a bit more for something which is special and not mass produced. I have also found that they are willing to travel quite a long way to get it.”

Ms Atherley, has also been impressed with the increase in footfall in Westhoughton town centre.

“I only came here in 2008 after moving back to the UK from Spain, but the town centre is busier than I expected,” she said. “There has been a good flow of people coming into the shop.”

Unlike many of her customers, Ms Atherley is hoping for a poor British summer, as hot weather is not good for the cottage chocolate making ind-ustry.

“It can be very difficult, if it is hot, like it was last summer,” she said. “It was hot as well as humid, which is not good for chocolate making. It was very difficult to judge it right.

“Hopefully, it won’t be like that this year.”