Bristol-Based Vital Duo Brings Innovative New Chocolate to Market with Support from The Food WorksSW

Inspired by Five Elements philosophy, Bristol-based chocolate brand Vital Duo is the latest food business to harness the expertise and specialist facilities at The Food WorksSW, North Somerset’s dedicated food and drink innovation centre.

Founded by Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner Michael Ip, Vital Duo blends ancient herbal wisdom with modern nutritional standards to create what the company describes as ‘luxury functional chocolate’, a daily wellness ritual designed to be both effective and enjoyable.

Recognising the need for specialist technical support to move from home production to scalable manufacturing, the team began working with The Food WorksSW’s New Product Development Manager, Zoe Plant. Her support included nutrition analysis, product labelling guidance and cost modelling, alongside access to the centre’s fully equipped trial and bakery kitchens, including a professional chocolate tempering machine.

“With a restrained budget, we simply couldn’t justify purchasing a tempering machine, and we had nowhere suitable to produce or experiment with chocolate bars at a food-standard level. The Food WorksSW gave us that opportunity, with the hygiene standards and management systems in place, so we could focus on building the product, while feeling confident that our manufacturing approach would stand up to scrutiny and help future buyers feel confident in us too,” said Michael.

Originally from Hong Kong and now based in Bristol, Michael says the idea for Vital Duo was very personal.

“My partner struggled with the bitterness and inconvenience of taking herbs consistently. I wanted to create a daily wellness ritual that felt enjoyable, not restrictive, and the first bar I made was, quite literally, a chocolate created for her.”

“That moment became the foundation of Vital Duo: where ancient wisdom meets modern standards. Our mission is simple - to make wellness feel like a small act of pleasure you can return to every day.”

During their time at The Food WorksSW, Technical Manager Beth Winters reviewed Vital Duo’s manufacturing processes and quality control systems, while also introducing the start-up to SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) certification, an important step towards retail readiness.

Michael continued: “The support we received was the bridge from homemade chocolate to real-world, scalable production. We gained a clear understanding of end-to-end manufacturing and the level of food safety required to grow.”

“One detail I still remember from Zoe is her reminder that in production you must account for labour wages and food wastage, even the chocolate lost during melting. Those insights sound small, but they change how you build a sustainable business.”

Michael added that the centre’s collaborative culture was just as valuable as its facilities.

“The kitchens are excellent, but what really stands out is the people. The way they guide you, challenge you and help you raise your standards without making it feel overwhelming. It feels like an ecosystem that genuinely wants food founders to succeed.

“We’re extremely grateful for The Food WorksSW and we’d encourage any food founder with a real vision to explore what the centre can offer.”

Reflecting on his journey, Michael shares his advice for aspiring food entrepreneurs:

● If you have passion for food, don’t try to do everything alone, get yourself into an environment that will raise your standards and accelerate your learning.

● Get clear on your story, branding and concept before you contact The Food WorksSW, so you don’t waste time.

● Know your target audience - marketing matters before production.

● Once you have a solid plan, use the centre’s Trial Kitchen to test, learn and refine.

● And don’t be afraid to ask questions. The support is there for a reason.

Created by North Somerset Council and operated by the Future Food Partnership CIC, a not-for-private-profit Community Interest Company, The Food WorksSW supports start-ups, established brands and hospitality businesses to innovate and grow.

Located in Weston-super-Mare, less than 30 minutes from Bristol, the centre is the only one in the South West. Facilities include five development kitchens with specialist equipment, 12 food grade business units, in-house technical experts, a business lounge and coffee shop (open to all businesses), meeting room and conference facilities and hosts multiple industry training and seminar events throughout the year.

The development kitchens are available for flexible short-term contract hire for food and drink businesses of all sizes, along with the meeting room and conference facilities.

Technical support packages are also available at the centre and are designed to help businesses navigate their way through a range of food disciplines – from new product development and scale up to food safety and efficiency.

For more information on how The Food WorksSW can help you and your business, visit foodworks-sw.co.uk, or to stay up-to-date follow @foodworks_sw on Instagram, Facebook and X. A range of case studies can be found on the website and on The Food WorksSW YouTube.

To find out more about Vital Duo, visit vitalduo.co.uk.