Eva Choi (BScEng’03) and Dallas Southcott (BA’95) have taken chocolate making to the next level. In 2015, they started The Chocolate Lab Inc., a company specializing in artisan bonbons and confections. They have won eight international chocolate awards, expanded to two locations in Calgary, AB, and will begin shipping their chocolates to the US in November. Choi and Southcott have become world leaders in modern chocolate decorating techniques and execution, and are sought after worldwide for consultation and workshops.
Choi says that Southcott's creativity and experience with chocolate, graphics and media, combined with her critical analysis and technical skills, makes it possible for them to merge art and science to produce a product that’s highly sensual, and operate a company that “pushes the boundaries to make magic.”
“The Chocolate Lab plays on our love for both art and science," says Choi. “We’re continually tweaking our products in search of breakthroughs. Dallas and I have a wide range of experience from our previous careers. Our collective skill sets and vision allow us to be able to explore creative concepts and execute them at the highest level.”
The Chocolate Lab touts itself as a very different experience that brings the adventurous spirit of youth to luxury chocolate. Choi and Southcott use the finest, freshest ingredients and push beyond the ordinary, providing a full-on sensory experience that also feeds the human spirit.
Choi started at UNB in geology and then switched to geological engineering “because every good Asian kid is steered toward practical and sensible outcomes.” After graduating, she landed a job as a consultant in core logging in Alberta as a geologist on the rigs for exploration projects. She eventually lost her job during an economic downturn. That's when she and Southcott decided to use their technical expertise and creative background to launch their business.
“We were able to find something we were both passionate about and scale it into a viable business and do it our way," says Choi. "And being busy parents also prepared us for this new venture."
Choi believes that passion, an optimistic attitude, a willingness to learn and the ability to execute are keys to success.
"Running a business is about planning, timing and processes. As an entrepreneur, you have to learn how to scale on the fly, but even with the inevitable pains of growth, it can be fun. Creating a socially and environmentally conscious product and company has been joy-filled.”
“I think I’ve been successful and enjoy what I do because I strive to provide an extraordinary experience for both staff and clients and I’m consistently striving to become the next best version of myself. Being able to create a company is amazing. Entrepreneurship has been crazy, fun, and an extraordinary learning experience.”
