About Rumsey's Handmade Chocolates
Our Story
Rumsey’s Handmade Chocolates is an independent, family-owned business, founded on a passion to make chocolate special. Owned by Kate Rumsey, we have chocolateries in Wendover and Thame, alongside a thriving online and wholesale business supplying our artisan chocolates across the UK.
Our story began in 2001 in a family kitchen in Aylesbury. Kate’s father-in-law, Nigel Rumsey, had spent 20 years as a pastry chef and was working at New College Oxford when a colleague asked him to make a batch of chocolates for his family to take home. The response was glowing, and Nigel’s passion for chocolate quickly grew into something much bigger.
As his chocolates began winning awards, Nigel realised he had the opportunity to turn his lifelong dream into a full-time business. Determined to master his craft, he travelled to London, Paris and Geneva, learning from some of Europe’s finest gourmet chocolatiers and bringing their inspiration home to Buckinghamshire.
On Valentine’s Day 2004, Nigel and his wife Mary opened the first Rumsey’s Chocolaterie in the historic Old Bank building on Wendover High Street. Three years later, in July 2007, they opened their second chocolaterie in Thame. Both shops feature distinctive interiors inspired by the film Chocolat, creating the warm, welcoming atmosphere Rumsey’s is known for today.
Kate joined the family business in 2016 and took the reins in April 2022, following Mary and Nigel’s retirement. Since then, the business has continued to grow while staying true to its family roots. We now have a team of around 50 people across our Front of House, Fulfilment and Production departments. Everything we make reflects Nigel's original commitment to craftsmanship, quality and outstanding taste.
We’re proud that this approach has been recognised through a number of awards and accolades, including being Highly Commended in the 2025 Enterprise Oxfordshire Manufacturer of the Year Award, finalists in the 2023 Small Awards and the 2022 Oxfordshire Business Retail Award, winners of the Buckinghamshire Business Awards Family Business of the Year 2021, and Highly Commended in the Great British Food Awards 2021.
But while awards are something we’re incredibly proud of, it’s Nigel’s original vision that still inspires us today. Our talented team shares that passion, taking pride in making exceptional handmade chocolates and creating the warm, welcoming experiences that are unmistakably Rumsey’s.
