Louis tastes sweet success

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and opposition leader David Cameron could soon be tasting chocolates created by a teenage Willy Wonka, after the youngster impressed an MP.

South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack said he would try and arrange a meeting between the political leaders and 16-year-old Louis Barnett, from Kinver, at the opening of the teenager's new factory yesterday. It was a double celebration for the teenager as he also became an ambassador for a new initiative called Business Rocks.

The scheme aims to provide support for youngsters in Shropshire looking to start firms of their own.

Louis launched his business a year ago starting out in the garage of his parents' home in Enville Road, Kinver. Sir Patrick was asked to officially cut the ribbon on Louis' Chokolit factory, in Bridgnorth, which the firm moved to back in August.

"I will do all I can to arrange a meeting between Louis and Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative party leader David Cameron who I think will both be interested in Louis' story," he said.

"This is absolutely wonderful for Louis and is a tribute to his imagination, ambition and dedication. I was very pleased to be asked to open the factory and would like to praise Louis for all he has accomplished in such a short space of time.

"I will support him in whatever way I can. Louis is an inspiration to youngsters who want to get into business. He should be very proud of what he has achieved so far."

The opening ceremony was followed by a gathering of people from the business community and sponsors for the firm.

Speaking after the opening, Louis said it had been an overwhelming experience. "It has been absolutely fantastic and has capped off a remarkable year for me," he said.

Louis' dad, Phil, who works with his son at the firm, said the aim of this year had been to build a strong foundation for the future. "Up until August we were still making the chocolates at our home in Kinver so to move from that to a working factory in such a short space of time has been incredible," he said.

"Only the other day we were contacted by a shop in Moscow who wanted to stock our chocolates. It is all very exciting."

Both Sainbury's and Waitrose are stocking the chocolates over the festive season.

Louis' chocolates are unique as they come packaged in an edible box. The youngster left school at 11 for home tutoring after being diagnosed with dyslexia. The name of his firm is how Louis used to spell chocolate because of his dyslexia.