Meet the maker
NearyNogs
About NearyNogs
In 2011, Shane and Dorothy Neary organised a fundraising event for their eldest daughter’s service trip to India. Dorothy, whose family has a long history in the confectionery industry, was given an old chocolate fudge recipe by her mother, who suggested that she make some to sell at the event. It’s lucky for us that she did! It proved to be a massive hit. Within days Shane and Dorothy were invited to craft markets and asked to provide food for weddings—and so the chocolate making began.
They’ve come a long way from their early days of processing their beans with a rolling pin and hair dryer! They now craft their chocolate in a repurposed potato farm in County Down, at the base of the Mourne Mountains with a beautiful view over the Irish Sea. They have kept the family aspect of the business, too. Shane proudly told us, “We’re a family business and all of our older children have various skills that are beneficial to a chocolate making business… i.e. mechanic, carpenter, event organising, marketing, researching, visual retailing and fancy improvising when necessary.” They offer regular tours each week on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (which includes free hot chocolate and loads of samples), host a local distillery once a month to do a combined chocolate and spirits tasting session, and host a chef each quarter to have a dining experience featuring their chocolate on the menu. They also work with local schools to create a curriculum to teach children about the origins and manufacture of chocolate – all part of their mission to educate and serve their local community.
How they became makers…
Craft chocolate became a full-time passion and career after a family illness. In late 2011 one of their younger daughters became seriously ill and required life-saving surgery, and regular treatment, at Great Ormond Street Hospital. To have more time for his daughter, Shane decided to leave his regular job and dive into the world of craft chocolate making. As demand grew and opportunities came flooding in, NearyNogs was born. (In case you’re wondering, the name comes from a small series of unpublished books Shane’s father wrote for his children about “a group of kids who lived in a Gaelic Narnia-style land.”).
NearyNogs’ Sourcing
NearyNogs has bars made from cocoa beans grown in Thailand, Ecuador Hacienda Limon and Hacienda Victoria, Kokoa Kamilia Tanzania, Honduras, Pisa Haiti, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru and more. As Shane said (and we couldn’t agree more!), “We feel it’s so important to build relationships with cacao producers.” The beans are then hand-sorted to ensure only the very best make it into their chocolate. The result is an exquisite finish and incredible flavours – we’re excited to have them on board.
Cocoa Runners is honoured to be able to offer our first Northern Irish single estate, small batch Craft Chocolate maker, and we really respect their dedication, ethical approach and creative recipes.
And check out this interview Spencer did with Shane and Dot from NearyNogs:
Want to explore more makers of the world's best craft chocolate? Just start typing their name (or any letter) into the search box to discover them.
20° Nord 20° Sud
9th & Larkin
Åkesson’s
Amaro
Amedei
AMMA
Ara
Askinosie
Auro Chocolate
AWKI
Aztec Gold
Baianí
Bare Bones
Bean & Goose
BeanCraft
Belmont Estate
Belvie
BOHO Chocolate
Bonnat
Bullion
Butterfly
Cacaoken
Cacaosuyo
Carambole
Casa Cacao
Castronovo
Chapon
Chequessett Chocolate
Choco Del Sol
Chococard
Chocokoo
Chocolarder
Chocolat Madagascar
Chocolate Tree
Chocolatemakers
Chocolaterie A. Morin
Chocolaterie Robert
ChocoMe Atelier
Claudio Corallo
Cocama
Coco Caravan
Cocoa Retreat
Conexion
Contour Chocolate
Cuna de Piedra
Damson
Dandelion Chocolate
DesBarres
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate
Diogo Vaz
Doble & Bignall
Domori
Dormouse Chocolates
Duffy’s Chocolate
Encuentro
Endorfin
ENRICHD
Erithaj Chocolat
Ethereal
Feitoria do Cacao
Firetree
Fjåk
Forever Cacao
Fossa
Foundry Chocolate
Franceschi
French Broad Chocolates
Fresco Chocolate
Friis Holm
Fruition
Fu Wan Chocolate
Georgia Ramon
Goodnow Farms Chocolate
Grenada Chocolate Company
Hasnaâ La Feverie
Heinde & Verre
Herencia Esmeraldas
Herufek
Höganäs
Hogarth
Hoja Verde
Idilio Origins
Innato
Islands Chocolate
Ivee Promenade
JK Fine Chocolates
Jordi’s Chocolate
Junglegold Bali
Kankel
Karuna
Krak Chocolade
Krakakoa
La Naya
Land
Lapa-Lapa
Latitude
Levy
LIM
Lucocoa
Luisa Abram
Luisa’s Vegan Chocolates
Lumineux
Lyra
Madécasse
Malagos Chocolate
Manoa
Manufaktura Czekolady
Marana
Marou
Mast Brothers
Maüa
Mellow
Menakao
Mestico
Metiisto
MIA
Michel Cluizel
Mike & Becky
Milz Chocolat
Minka
Mirzam
Misina Cokolada
MOKA
Montecristi
Mucho
Nadalina
Naive
ÓBOLO
Ocelot
Oialla
Omnom
Original Beans
Pacari
Pacha de Cacao
Palette de Bine
Parliament
Pitch Dark
Plaq
Pralus
PRIDI Cacaofevier
Puchero
Pump Street Chocolate
Pure Imagination
Qantu
Raaka
Radek’s Chocolate
Raphio Chocolate
Reine Astrid
Rio Nuevo
Ritual Chocolate
Rococo
Rózsavölgyi Csokoládé
Ruket
Seaforth Chocolate Co.
Shattell
Sirene
Sisters A. Chocolate
Soklet
Solkiki
Solomons Gold
Solstice
Soma
SPAGnVOLA
Standout Chocolate
Storm & Bille
Stranger
Svenska Kakaobolaget
Table
Taucherli
Taza Chocolate
TBROS
TCHO
The Careless Collection
The Smooth Chocolator
Theobroma Cacao
Tibito
Tobago Cocoa
Tosier
Undone Chocolate
Utopick
Vinte Vinte
Willie’s Cacao
Zotter
