Butler's Chocolates 
                        An Irish Legacy

                                        
                                                                                                        Articles Index

When you think of the finest Irish chocolates, the name that immediately comes to mind is, of course, Butler’s. These delectable confections are the perfect creation of fresh Irish cream, butter, and eggs from the Irish countryside. As Butler’s celebrates its 75th anniversary, it’s exciting to look back at this extraordinary company.

In 1932, Dublin was growing exponentially and was finally developing into a world-class city. The streets were filled with people looking to make their fortunes. As these fortunes were found, these newly-rich Dubliners would look to the rest of Europe for the latest in fashion and fine cuisine. 

There was no need for Dubliners to look to the Continent for the finest in chocolates, though. Deep in the heart of Georgian Dublin, a Mrs. Bailey-Butler was developing a line of handmade chocolates that met or exceeded the standards set by some of Europe’s finest confectioners. As one of the first chocolatiers in Ireland, she set the bar so high that few have ever been able to even come close.

So what made Mrs. Bailey-Butler’s chocolates so special, you ask. The aforementioned exquisite fresh ingredients certainly didn’t hurt. Mrs. Bailey-Butler, though, would say that the key was in her secret recipes. These recipes have been closely guarded ever since, and are certainly no small part in why Mrs. Bailey-Butler became a virtual overnight success.

As Mrs. Bailey-Butler’s company grew into what’s now known simply as Butler’s Chocolates, she didn’t move her production facilities out of Dublin, even though to do so would have likely saved production costs. Instead, Butler’s Chocolates continued in Dublin, honing Mrs. Bailey-Butler’s original recipes and chocolate-making techniques. These have been handed down from generation to generation, and have proven invaluable many times over.

Mrs. Bailey-Butler also knew that presentation was everything. Her chocolates were superior in quality to most all of her rivals, but they were also higher in price. In order to help sway the opinion of her purchasing public, she decided to showcase the luxurious nature of her creations in an equally-luxurious package. Her choice? White and gold embossed boxes tied with olive ribbon and decorated flowers. Butler’s Chocolates customers were just as impressed by these hand-packed boxes as they were by the delectable contents.

In 1959, Butler’s Chocolates was purchased by the Sorensen family and remains in the family to this day. The Sorensen family has been able to grow Butler’s Chocolates into Ireland’s leading chocolatier known as the Irish Chocolate Company. Butler’s Chocolates is still the company premier brand, known the world over.

The company is still based in Sir John Rogerson’s Quay in the center of Dublin, operating from a 40,000 sq. ft. production facility. The company’s logistics, sales, and shipping operations are housed adjacent to this structure. Butler’s Chocolates also recently opened a second production facility in Bluebell, Dublin. 

Over the years the Butler’s Chocolates brand has expanded to include a wide variety of confections. The product lineup includes truffles, pralines, fondant and crème fraîche chocolates in milk, dark and white chocolate. While this product range seems to cover it all, it doesn’t even begin to complete the Butler’s Chocolates array. Mints, fudge, sugar-based confections, and a specialty line of Easter candies begin to name the extent of Butler’s offerings.

The most recent addition to the Butler’s family is the series of Butler’s Chocolate Cafes. The first café opened in Dublin on Wicklow Street in November of 1998. Due to the exceeding success of this outlet, the company added to the list of cafes and expanded to Grafton Street, Chatham Street, and Nassau Street in Dublin. The Butler’s Chocolate Cafes now number ten and all are extraordinarily successful.

As Butler’s Chocolates continues to grow and expand its lineup, chocolate lovers everywhere can rest assured that each piece that comes forth will be a tribute in taste and appearance to the originator of Butler’s, Mrs. Bailey-Butler herself.

Articles Index