Beginning as a small workshop in the remote Burren region of Ireland, Hazel Mountain Chocolate has grown into a destination that attracts over 200,000 visitors annually. As one of the few “bean-to-bar” chocolatiers in the world, founders John and Kasha Connolly foster direct relationships with cocoa farmers, source local ingredients, and put in weeks of work to craft each bar from start to finish.
For John, the company is as much about the experience as it is about product quality: “The chocolate stands for itself because of its quality of ingredients, but what people remember is the experience we create.” The brand draws customers to their interactive factory tours, informational exhibits, and events. Hazel Mountain now operates at their original workshop, runs a bakery shop in Galway, and maintains a robust online storefront.
Going Digital in the Countryside
The business relies on partners and platforms including Shopify, Visa and Instagram to create trust with their customers and make operations more manageable. Hazel Mountain went completely cashless in 2018, which was a pioneering move in Ireland at the time. Square now powers every transaction in-store and online, allowing John to track sales in real-time, measure basket value, and spend more time on customer service.
Early on, connectivity and lack of infrastructure in their remote location limited Hazel Mountain’s digital capacity. With the adoption of Starlink broadband, the business now runs seamless digital operations across their two physical locations and their online store. Affordable, reliable internet in rural areas is critical to the operations of businesses like Hazel Mountain Chocolate.
Reliable technology has acted as a catalyst for growth since they were originally adopted by Hazel Mountain. “We freed up time to engage with customers, reduced risk, and removed hours of inefficiencies,” says John.
An International Horizon
Digital integration has allowed Hazel Mountain to build an online presence and sell their chocolates outside of Ireland. With the consumer trust in digital payments, and business insights from the many digital technologies the Connollys use, they are now preparing for a bold new step: establishing a retail location in Boston, Massachusetts.
This expansion addresses one of Hazel Mountain’s biggest challenges: international shipping. One of Hazel Mountain’s main challenges in selling outside of Ireland is the costs and frictions around international shipping. They are betting that a local retail presence will make the business more competitive while building on its loyal American customer base.
“We want the adventure of expanding to a new market,” explains John. This international rollout comes with new challenges, but digital payments are helping Hazel Mountain Chocolate be set for success.
