The owners of a chocolatiers in Manchester say they are ‘struggling enough as it is’ after their store was broken into.
Cocoa Cabana, located on Murray Street in Ancoats, was ransacked by thieves in the early hours of Sunday morning (April 2). The thieves, who made their way in by breaking the store’s front windows, smashed up items inside and stole the shop’s till.
Posting on the shop’s Instagram page on Sunday, Cocoa Cabana said: “We will be open a little later today because some scumbags broke into my chocolate shop at Easter. I literally have no words right now.
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“Life is so tough for independent and all businesses at the moment and to have to deal with this on top of everything else quite frankly is too much. My team have been amazing this morning. We are cleaning up and we will be ready to open soon.”
Sarah Gallacher, who owns the Ancoats store alongside another in Didsbury, said she believes the thieves - who struck at around 3am - have now cost the business more than £4,000 in damages.
“I was pretty upset when I found out this morning,” Sarah told the M.E.N. “It just feels like it’s just another thing to deal with on top of everything else. We’ve just got through Covid, we’ve got rising costs and having to now put up with someone doing this to something we’ve worked hard for is not great.”
The award-winning chocolatier, tearoom and cocktail bar launched in 2019 and has been a big hit with foodies in Manchester ever since. It was even named by Cadbury as one of the best independent chocolatiers in the UK.
Sarah says the break-in has been caught on CCTV and thanked a passer-by who reported the incident as it happened.
“Someone reported it at the time and we’re hoping the CCTV will be able to help police track down the people who broke in,” Sarah said.
“It’s just a struggle being in business right now. Times are pretty tough as it is and this is our busiest time of the year. Now we’ve lost money and have got to fit a new window as well.”
Asked what people can do to help local businesses during rising costs, Sarah said she just wants people to remember that independent retailers exist.
“My energy costs are ridiculous and I don’t have a big machine behind me - I’m just trying to make nice chocolate,” Sarah says.
“If people don’t show up for local businesses, we will not survive. Support all of your local and independent shops during this time - it’s all we can ask for.”
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for more information.
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