It's been a bumper Easter for Coco88, a family chocolate business run by mum Carole and son Chris Bertuccio. Their workshop in southern Sydney’s Pemulwuy turns out treats by the thousand.
“We produce handmade Belgian chocolate and we sell all around Australia,” Carole explains.
“We make really exquisite, decadent chocolates, and a lot of other fun chocolate products too, for the kids.”
Easter is usually their busiest time, and their treat filled chocolate eggs are best sellers.
"The Smash Easter Egg was our top item and we sold just over 3,000 eggs," says Chris. "Hot Cross Biscuits are also popular and we sold 2,000 packets."
It was a 500 per cent revenue lift on last Easter when sales had slumped at the Bertuccio's shopfront due to coronavirus restrictions. Sydney’s lockdown saw sales from foot traffic slowing to almost zero.
Chris Bertuccio holding their signature coated eggs. Source: SBS Melinda Boutkasaka
“For a period of about three weeks, we had Easter products on the shelves and we had nobody coming into to buy,” Carole Bertuccio says.
“But everybody was going crazy, panic buying pasta and toilet paper, so we had to do something.”
Like many Australian retail owners, the family needed a new strategy.
“Slowly, slowly, we had to make that hard decision to close the doors because it wasn’t sustainable to stay open for the few customers that came in.”
They decided to trade online insetad and never looked back.
“Pivoting online brought a huge boost in sales, and allowed us to expand our customer base," Chris says.
Chris packing chocolates to fill online orders. Source: SBS Melinda Boutkasaka
But expanding digitally also brought new challenges.
“We were running out of space because of the demand from online. Social media was massive, so after we closed the doors we cut the sales counter in half to use it as work benches.
“Then we started to employ more people. At the time, many people were out of work and we were probably one of the only businesses in the area that was hiring.”
The business takes its name from the year Carole Bertuccio migrated from Lebanon with her family, in 1988. Many of their sweet treats also incorporate elements of Carole’s Lebanese heritage.
“We use Turkish delight in three different products,” she says.
Carole was always keen to start her own venture, and eventually traded a corporate career to go solo.
Carole Bertuccio remains hands on in the family business. Source: SBS Melinda Boutkasaka
“This was a passion of mine. I had an interest in creating all things sweet, with an idea that one day I would open up my own business.
“My two boys had grown up and were out of school. I gave myself a couple of years in the corporate world and I said ‘that’s it’.”
Carole later invited son Chris to join the family business. Chris holds a commerce degree majoring in entrepreneurial studies from Macquarie University. He has helped to develop the website and expand its digital footprint.
However, he says his mother Carole remains his main mentor.
“I’ve learned so much from mum, especially the day-to-day things, the way she operates, plus watching all the hard work she puts in. It's a huge inspiration.”
“Growth has not stopped ever since we launched online," he says. "it's very rewarding to see that happen, and we know we are on the right path."
