Rebecca Knights put Hello Coco chocolate shop, Sydney Chocolate School up for sale for first time in 20 years

Attention chocoholics, now’s your chance to own a well known Sydney chocolate shop with the long-running owner putting the business on the market for the first time in 20 years.

Chocolatier Rebecca Knights, owner of the artisan chocolate brand.

A beloved Sydney chocolate shop and chocolate school is up for sale with the long-term owner hoping to find a new owner to take the reins and keep the cocoa flowing.

After 20 years since catering for crowds of chocoholics, the Hello Coco Chocolate shop in Kirribilli – along with the Sydney Chocolate School is Mosman – has been put on the market for $800,000.

Chief chocolatier and business founder Rebecca Knights, who founded the artisan brand back in 2004, said the decision to seek a new owner was bittersweet.

“It wasn’t an easy decision but my husband’s retired and he wants me to hurry up and do it too so we can enjoy more time with the kids and do things like going on some overdue holidays,” she said.

“I feel so fortunate the business has been going strong for 20 years – it’s certainly been a dream job but It’s time to pass it on and hopefully take it forward for the next 20 years.”

The business marked its 20 year anniversary this year.

Ms Knights – who grew up in Sydney – learnt the craft of the chocolate trade at the exclusive Valrhona school in France before launching the north shore store and chocolate school.

Since then, the business has grown from strength to strength with Hello Coco Chocolate now supplying major retailers including Harris Farm and Victor Churchill.

Alongside the shop, Ms Knights also operates The Sydney Chocolate School – located at Middle Head – which has seen more than 15,000 people learn the tricks of the sweet trade over the last two decades.

Chocolatier Rebecca Knights pictured here making honeycomb.

Ms Knights said the business has overcome many hurdles along the way including navigating the Covid-19 pandemic which brought in-person chocolate experiences to a standstill.

“That was very a challenging time for us but the chocolate school is right back to where it was before the pandemic and one of the good things that came from that experience was looking at ways to operate in new ways such as our online school,” she said.

“There’s been so many highlights over the years, particularly seeing children who come back year on year for birthday parties and seeing the evolution of a shop as well.

The shop is based in Kirribilli.

“Christmas and Easter are also very special times for us because we do all our own artwork for our Easter eggs and people come to the shop specifically for that one special egg for their loved ones and we love having that reputation.”

Ms Knights said other highlights included some surprise guests who have dropped in at the store and chocolate school including UK singer Adele.

The dedicated business owner said she has no immediate plans to close the shop or school – which operate under two separate leases – until a new buyer for the brand can be found.

Rebecca Knights said the decision to sell was “bittersweet”.

“There’s no rush to leave – my ethos is that I’m retiring, not running – and I’m very happy to keep working for the next 12 months if that’s how it works out,” she said.

“Ideally I’d love for the business to go to someone who also has a passion for the brand.

“My dream would be three people who love the food industry and making chocolate and will take it to the next level.”

Ms Knights said both businesses are operating at a profit and carrying no debt.

Hello Coco Chocolate is known for using organic chocolate coverture and has also supplied to David Jones, Accoutrement Mosman and been awarded industry gongs including at The Great Taste Awards.