While being a successful confectioner is Justine’s passion and pride, her earlier degree and subsequent careers as a scientist and waste management expert have a significant role to play. Chocolate making after all, is a meticulous science of its own, one that relies on exact quantities and a healthy dose of patience and precision. There are few edible commodities as precious and potentially fickle as cocoa and working it into the shape and form we see in North South bonbons and chocolate bars is its own epic journey of patience, skill and yes, waste management – because most people can agree that wasting good chocolate is nothing short of a travesty.

Similarly, sustainability and a transparent journey are a significant pillar of the North South brand. “Our cocoa supplier sources his product from small farms in South America and it’s a completely traceable supply chain, that part is really important to us and we wholeheartedly embrace Fair Trade principles”, she says, adding “likewise our fruit fillings and flavours are gathered from a network of trusted global food merchants and our sustainability ethos extends to our recyclable packaging too, it’s all part of the story”.