Five gold, 14 silver and five bronze accolades were awarded, along with seven commendations across all three categories.

Winners included Ottar chocolate, based in Nottinghamshire, awarded gold and silver awards for its sweet sea salt fennel caramel and sea salt rosemary caramel, respectively, in the salted caramel and milk chocolate spreads category.

Soma Chocolate won gold in the boxes category and Dick Taylor, Californian craft chocolate maker, took away two bronze awards for flavoured hot chocolate and plain hot chocolate and a gold award for packaging.

In keeping with the academy’s aim, products entered must not contain artificial colours or flavourings.

Judging or the awards, chaired by pastry chef Sarah Hartnett, began on April 3rd. The academy announced the filled chocolate winners at the end of April and will announce the bean to bar and drinks winners next week.