Irish artisan chocolate brand Grá Chocolates is delighted to announce its highly anticipated UK debut – bringing its handcrafted, small-batch creations to a new audience following phenomenal success in Ireland, where collections regularly sell out within minutes of release.
Founded in 2020 by award-winning pastry chef Gráinne Mullins, Grá Chocolates has grown from a lockdown passion project into one of Ireland’s most exciting food brands – celebrated for its beautifully designed chocolates, exceptional flavour, and deeply personal approach to craftsmanship. Handcrafted in small batches in County Galway, each piece combines the finest raw ingredients with native Irish flavours, offering a refined yet joyful expression of modern confectionery.
Meaning “love” in Irish, Grá lies at the heart of everything the brand represents – from its commitment to Irish ingredients and heritage to the care and precision that go into every chocolate. The result is a collection of exquisite artisan confections that invite you to experience the pure taste of happiness.
Grá Chocolates will be available for purchase online at: https://grachocolates.com/
From Michelin kitchens to a Galway garden shed
Gráinne Mullins’ journey into chocolate is anything but conventional.
Raised in Galway in a family that celebrated food and flavour, she began her career as a teenager working in the pastry kitchens of five-star hotels. Originally set on a different path, she left a science degree to pursue professional training in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Aix-en-Provence – a decision that would shape her future.
Returning to Ireland, she honed her skills in some of the country’s leading Michelin-starred kitchens, earning recognition as Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year in 2019. But it was in 2020, during lockdown, that the idea for Grá Chocolates was born.
“It all started in my family’s shed,” says Mullins. “With travel plans on hold, I began making handmade Easter eggs to bring a little joy to friends and family. I shared them online, and the response was incredible – it gave me the confidence to build something of my own.”
A brand built on craft, storytelling and ‘Grá’
Meaning “love” in Irish, Grá is at the heart of everything the brand represents – from its commitment to Irish ingredients and heritage to the care that goes into every chocolate.
Each piece is created by hand in County Galway using:
Ethically sourced Valrhona chocolate
Irish cream and butter from local dairies
Ingredients such as Achill Island sea salt and Irish honey
Produced in small batches over several days, every chocolate is individually hand-painted and crafted with a focus on flavour, texture and visual artistry.
From sell-out drops to global demand
Since launch, Grá Chocolates has built a devoted following, with collections frequently selling out shortly after release. What began as a single product offering has grown into a business with over 50 distinct lines, shipping worldwide.
The brand has recently moved into a dedicated production space in Galway City and is now embarking on its next chapter – the development of a purpose-built “pink chocolate factory”, complete with a visitor experience designed to bring customers closer to the craft.
UK Launch: a natural next step
The UK launch marks a significant milestone for the brand, introducing British audiences to Grá Chocolates’ distinctive blend of artisan technique, Irish provenance and modern design.
At its core, the brand offers more than just chocolate – it delivers a sense of occasion, creativity and connection, rooted in Mullins’ belief that food should be both beautiful and meaningful.
The Taste of Happiness
Luxurious, expressive and meticulously crafted, Grá Chocolates represent a new wave of artisan confectionery – where culinary skill meets storytelling and design.
As Mullins puts it: “Every chocolate we make is a celebration of Irish identity – made by hand, with purpose, and always with love.”
