The Winter months always seem to drag on as February approaches but Valentines Day is a great excuse to brighten up and share the love. As they say, February may be short but it is very sweet! Extend that loving feeling to everyone: staff, friends, pets and partners to bring a new uplifting vibe to your displays.

Chocolate was considered so potent it was prescribed by 18th century doctors to mend a broken heart, and nuns in the 1600s were banned from sampling the dark stuff for fear of its sexual reputation! It’s certainly not news that chocolate is an aphrodisiac; for 2,000 years its powers have been revered as an ‘elixir of love’. And, the Aztecs, who discovered it, were on to something – we now know chocolate contains serotonin and high levels of phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring chemical that promotes feelings of bliss and happiness, associated with being in love.

Quite frankly we would love chocolate regardless, but there is something rather fabulous about knowing that it has been used to help fuel passion for millennia!

It is important to choose a selection of chocolate for this event. You can really push up the top end price points with quality brands like Rococo who do hearts, lips and much more. There are also those offering clever alternatives like Melt, The Chocolate Libertine or specialist chocolatier Madame Oiseau.

Don't forget that there is also an opportunity to take chocolate to a more playful place with brands like Maple Mollies as well as something for the kids to buy Mum or Dad, from brands like Sugar Sin.

Create displays with cards, Champagne, Rose, any pink non-alcoholic options and if possible roses (fresh, or chocolate or both!). If you have a café then create your Valentine’s signature hot chocolate with added chocolate on the side just for the first fortnight of Feb and spread the love.

February Actions:

• Get your Valentine’s displays and décor up before the first weekend of February to give yourselves and your customers two weekends before the main event. This way they will know to pop into you to buy their gift.
• Whilst the 14th Feb is a Monday, be prepared for those who want to celebrate with romantic meals, breakfast in bed, Champagne, wine and whatever treat they see over the weekend of the 12th and 13thas well. Make sure you feature and flag those items that are suitable and consider a menu if you have product to create one.

Pictures are from The Chocolate Libertine and Maple Mollies Instagram