Yorkshire's 80noir raises £110,000 to take functional hot chocolate into Europe

What's the deal? 80noir, a Northallerton-based luxury functional hot chocolate brand, has secured £110,000 in combined funding to expand into Europe. The total comprises £50,000 in angel investment and £60,000 in non-dilutive innovation funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined AuthorityDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s Great Ideas programme.

What's the endgame? The company is targeting new markets in Scandinavia, starting with Sweden, as well as France. The grant will fund development of CocoaPod by 80noir, a premium cacao hot chocolate pod prototype designed to be NespressoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →-compatible.

What does it do? 80noir makes hot chocolate from real dark chocolate rather than conventional powders, offering higher cacao percentages. Its pieces dissolve in water or milk and come in three blends: 72%, 87.5%, and 100%.

The brand is stocked in independent food halls and farm shops, including Lewis and Cooper in Northallerton and Campbell's of Leyburn. It is also developing CocoaPod with York Cocoa WorksDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and the University of Leeds; Michelin-starred The Star Inn at Harome and Cross House Lodge have agreed to trial the product.

What's next? 80noir is seeking a further £390,000 to complete a £500,000 longer-term growth plan. Founder Carole Armitage, mentored by former Hotel ChocolatDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → commercial and property director Francesca Haynes, sold her London property last year to fund the business.

The signal: Functional chocolate is riding a clear consumer shift. The Deloitte Chocolate Study 2026 found web searches for "healthy chocolate" have doubled in four years, hitting an all-time high in early 2026 — a tailwind for small brands betting on cacao with added benefits.

Read more: yorkshiretimes.co.uk

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