Tasty treats lead to sweet success and dreams of a chocolate factory

Tom Newey heads the business on School Lane, which opened in October 2020, and everyone at Layers Treats is celebrating winning Mid Cheshire’s Best for Dessert 2023.

Each week, we will be searching for the best Mid Cheshire has to offer in different categories and we’ve given out 12 awards for 2023.

The winners so far:

Best for Hair – Oliver Gibney Hairdressing

Best for Pies – Ka Pie

Best for Nails – Samantha Dean Nails and Makeup

Best for Roast Dinner – The Red Lion in Little Budworth

Best for Cocktails – Grape and Bean

Best for Breakfast – Kanya Bistro and Bar

Best for Fitness – Simon Daniels

Best for Fish and Chips – The Corner Fish and Chip Shop

Best for Tattoos – Ink FX Tattoo

Best for Pizza – Oakwood Smoke and Dough

Best for Pets – Willowsway Cat Rescue

Best Independent Shop or Business – The Style Hut

Voting for Mid Cheshire’s Best for Beauty is currently taking place and we’re also looking for nominations in our latest search - Best for Kids.

Next on the menu was the search for Mid Cheshire’s Best for Dessert and Layers Treats took the latest crown.

Some of the tasty treats on the menu

Layers Treats has two parts – the chocolate business and the dessert business, which operates from a custom-built airstream trailer.

Tom, who is 22, said: “I’m the owner but it’s very much a family business that wouldn’t work without all of the help and support from my family and friends.

“My mum, dad and sister as well as my girlfriend and her sister have worked tirelessly to get the business to where it is today and at peak seasons, especially with the chocolate business, the team grows to include my auntie, uncles and good friends.

“We’ve been based at our Hartford home since we opened – we’ve been looking for a unit for a while but haven’t found the right one yet.

“This is our first summer with our airstream trailer and we have loved getting out to all the local events.

“We have big plans for the future and hope to expand so that one day we can have our own chocolate factory in Northwich.”

Tom is a former pupil of St Wilfrid’s Primary School, St Nicholas High School and Sir John Deane’s and he wanted to start his business in the Northwich area.

Having enjoyed several entrepreneurial opportunities when he was younger, including selling craft jewellery at fairs, Tom decided to launch a business when he left college.

The airstream trailer is a regular at local markets and fairs

Tom said: “I had received an offer from the University of Durham to study business but decided to defer my place.

“I have always struggled with dyslexia and the classroom environment is not set up for my style of learning.

“I feared university might not be the right choice for me as I know that I learn best in a hands-on, visual and creative environment - an environment that allows me to think outside the constraints of a classroom and what a book says I should be doing.

“Like many people, I was looking for things to keep me busy during national and local lockdowns.

“I have always enjoyed cooking so I started to experiment with chocolate and after a few weeks of making chocolate treats and sending them to friends and family to keep spirits up, I decided to create a website and started to sell the products online.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to find a very supportive and loyal group of customers from all over the UK who love what we make and have allowed us to continue doing what we love to do.”

But what do the customers think about Layers Treats? Why did they want them to win our latest Best of 2023 title?

One nomination said: “They have such a fantastic variety of desserts which are all delicious.”

Tom said: “We make handmade Belgian chocolates using the finest Belgian chocolate.

“The airstream trailer has an onboard soft serve ice cream machine, Belgian chocolate tap and crepe machine as well as a candy floss maker, bubble waffle machines and milkshake makers.

“We pride ourselves on making the tastiest and most creative desserts and chocolates.

“Each season, we create new and exciting treats that you won’t find elsewhere.

“We want our customers to be excited and thrilled with their purchases and we also want them to share their excitement with loved ones when they send a special gift.

“We like to think that we provide more than just the product we sell - we also provide a real sense of theatre and joy as our customers watch their desserts being made right in front of them or when they receive a handmade chocolate treat.”

Customers travel from all over Cheshire to sample the sweet treats

It’s these personal touches that make Layers Treats stand out from the crowd with new creations and innovations coming each season that not only look amazing but taste delicious as well.

Their customer service is second to none with everyone making sure visitors have a great experience every time and, on the rare occasion that they make a mistake, these are quickly rectified to ensure customer satisfaction.

So, what’s popular with customers? What’s a menu favourite for Layers Treats fans?

Tom said: “One of our most popular desserts is the Cloud 99 ice cream - kids and families love it.

“It is a waffle ice cream cone filled with Jersey dairy ice cream, which is surrounded by a cloud of freshly made candy floss.

“To compete the wow effect, it is topped with a flake, sauce and two toppings of your choice.

“Our most popular chocolate would have to be our Easter eggs and they sell out every year.

“Each egg is handmade and filled with your favourite fillings between two layers of Belgian chocolate.

“Each year, we introduce something different to each seasonal range while keeping everyone’s favourites too.”

Owner Tom Newey with a Cloud 99

Being shortlisted for Best for Dessert 2023 was an honour for Layers Treats and the knew the competition was tough with so many fantastic dessert places in Mid Cheshire.

Tom said: “It was surreal when we heard we’d won – there were lots of squeals of excitement and jumping up and down.

“It means so much to us that our fantastic customers have taken the time to vote for us.

“Without them, none of this would have been possible, and their support over the past two-and-a-half years has been amazing.

“For a small family business to be recognised by the Northwich and Winsford Guardian and our customers is a real honour.”

For more details go to facebook.com/layerstreats