While Glenn Knowles’ business background has contributed to the success of Gem Chocolates, no one could have guessed during his 25-year career in corporate finance that he’d become a multi-award-winning artisan chocolate maker.
“Food has always been a passion at home, and I didn’t want to reach my eighties with any regrets,” says Glenn, who abandoned his senior management job in 2009 to pursue his dreams.
Awaiting the start of culinary school, Glenn enrolled in the Master Chocolatier program at École Chocolat, an international online chocolate-making school.
“Lo and behold, I was having so much fun, a few months later I launched this company. It was completely unexpected,” says Glenn. “I sold online and wholesaled for about a year, then decided to get serious and go retail.”
Much to the delight of the local community, Glenn opened the doors of Gem Chocolates, Kerrisdale’s first artisan chocolate shop, in 2011. Not only does Gem reflect the natural and luxurious characteristics of Glenn’s handmade chocolates, it’s also acronym that celebrates his family: Glenn, Eamon and Madeleine—himself and his two children.
