It All Started With A Truffle...

The Hot Chocolates story began in the early 1980s in a small café on Denman Island. There, alongside her mother, Deanna Stewart, Sherry Marshall-Bruce began crafting small batches of handmade chocolate truffles using simple, all-natural ingredients.

Those artisan truffles quickly became a local favourite. As word spread throughout the island community, demand continued to grow, and what started as a small family venture soon became the foundation of something much bigger.

In 1986, Sherry and Deanna moved to Vancouver Island and opened a small chocolate shop in downtown Courtenay. They named it Hot Chocolates. From the beginning, customers were drawn to the quality of the handmade chocolates, the welcoming atmosphere, and the signature truffles that had already earned a loyal following.

The tiny storefront also became home to the Comox Valley's first cappuccino machine, helping establish Hot Chocolates as a unique destination for chocolate lovers and coffee enthusiasts alike.

In 1992, Jorden Marshall joined the Hot Chocolates team. Following Sherry's passing in 2010 and Deanna's in 2018, Jorden continued their legacy, leading the business forward while remaining true to the values and traditions that shaped Hot Chocolates from the very beginning.

• (Photo Credit: Courtenay & District Museum and Paleontology Centre , circa 1987.)

The Tradition Continues

As Hot Chocolates grew alongside the Comox Valley community, the business expanded and relocated several times before settling into its current Courtenay location in 2006. The move provided an opportunity to grow the chocolate shop and establish Cakebread Artisan Bakery, creating a destination where customers could enjoy handcrafted chocolates, fresh baking, and exceptional customer service under one roof.

Today, Hot Chocolates continues to create artisan chocolates, handmade truffles, chocolate bars, seasonal treats, and specialty gifts for customers throughout Vancouver Island and across Canada. While our product selection has expanded over the years, our commitment to quality, freshness, and craftsmanship remains unchanged.

More than four decades after those first truffles were made on Denman Island, you'll still find the same signature handmade chocolate truffles that started it all. Crafted with premium ingredients and prepared using the same careful techniques developed by Deanna and Sherry, they remain a cherished part of the Hot Chocolates tradition.

• (Left to right: Judy, Deanna, Arlene, Jorden & Michele celebrate 30 years of Hot Chocolates in 2016)