Teenager starts chocolate factory

Louis has won contracts to supply supermarkets with his chocolates

A 15-year-old boy with learning difficulties has started his own chocolate factory after winning contracts to supply supermarkets.

Louis Barnett, from Kinver, Staffs, left school aged 11 after being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia and began making chocolates at home.

New contracts have meant he has had to expand his firm Chokolit and has moved to a factory in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

He has taken on new staff, including his parents Phil and Mary Barnett.

Louis has been like this right from day one, he is a hard worker and is very enthusiastic about his product Mary Barnett, mother

Louis said: "I've always been a very foody person and conscious of where my food comes from.

"I've been doing bits of baking and making cakes with my mum since I was about four or five and really it was just one of my passions."

The young entrepreneur started out with a 12oz (340 gram) chocolate machine, making one mould at a time for family and friends.

'Huge risk'

Now he produces hundreds of chocolates and has won contracts to supply Sainsbury's and Waitrose at Christmas.

His dad Phil quit his job to work with Louis and the 15-year-old's former home tutor Jan is also employed at the confectionery firm.

Mary Barnett said: "Louis has been like this right from day one, he is a hard worker and is very enthusiastic about his product.

"It's a huge risk, Phil has given up his job and we've put a lot of money in, but we believe that he'll do it."