Case Study Four

Tomkins - Supporting Great Chocolate

Reflecting on her relationship with us, Gráinne believes that “Tomkin’s fusion of dependable legal savvy, technical expertise and strategic creativity helped me with the intellectual property of my business. Their methods for protecting innovative products and process tangibles such as trademarks and designs of Grá Chocolates and even their business models were effortless and uncomplicated.

The Project

Growing up in Galway, great family cooking was a part of Gráinne Mullins’ childhood, and after setting foot in commercial kitchens while just a teenager, she began part-time in the pastry section of five-star hotels soon after. While initially commencing a Science Degree, she interrupted it, to work for two years in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Aix-en-Provence, France.

Returning home to work in the pastry sections in many of Ireland’s best and most famous kitchens, Gráinne won the prestigious 2019 Euro-Toques Young Chef of the Year. Gráinne then founded Grá Chocolates in her hometown of Kilchreest in 2020.  She has enjoyed unrivalled success in her beautiful, unique, hand painted chocolates, and appreciates that,

 “Intellectual property safeguards our business assets that are essential to Grá Chocolates fundamental elements and long-term existence, protecting more than simply ideas and concepts”

Protecting not just her Trade Mark, many of Gráinne’s beautiful chocolates enjoy design protection, too – showing how all forms of intellectual property,

 “contribute to the value and success of the business” Intellectual property protection helps in “developing and maintaining Grá Chocolates long term revenue streams and increases shareholder's value”.

Truly, Grá Chocolates marries artistry with science - each chocolate takes three days to create. Moulds are hand polished to ensure a glossy, luxurious sheen before adding the colourful hand-painted decoration. Each filling is perfected to a signature recipe, ensuring decadently delicious flavour. Ingredients change with the seasons, drawing on Ireland’s rich larder. This marriage is reflected in the combination of various aspects of IP implemented to create a bespoke tapestry of protection for Gráinne and the Grá Chocolates products.

Reflecting on her relationship with us, Gráinne believes that,

“Tomkin’s fusion of dependable legal savvy, technical expertise and strategic creativity helped me with the intellectual property of my business. Their methods for protecting innovative products and process tangibles such as trademarks and designs of GRÁ CHOCOLATES and even their business models were effortless and uncomplicated. With the help of defendable IP rights and their knowledge of my competitors' activities, Tomkins helped me achieve my goals for my business”

Tomkins. Supporting Greatness. Supporting Great Chocolate.