GEM CHOCOLATES: Kerrisdale’s Gem Story by Sarah Gordon
Photos by Sandra Steier and submitted
When Glenn Knowles and I last spoke in 2011, he had recently opened Gem Chocolates; now, Glenn is preparing to sell his well-loved, award-winning business to enjoy his wellearned retirement.
he chose Gem Chocolate’s location. The anticipation of the shop opening was high from customers and local merchants, who were extremely supportive of his new business.
In 2009, Glenn decided it was time to do something dramatic and live life with no regrets. Leaving behind his job as director of back-office operations at the stock exchange, he traded in his business attire for a Euro chef shirt and registered at the Vancouver-based Ecole Chocolat. Soon after graduating with honours in an online Master Chocolatier program, Glenn sold his chocolates online and wholesale to such impressive clients as the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
Glenn says, “After almost 13 years, I feel very happy to have created something from scratch in an entirely new industry and developed new skills. Shifting from my previous career into retail food was hardly a linear progression.”
In 2011, he took his dream one step further and opened his artisan chocolate shop. Kerrisdale came out as the winner when 12
“Initially, I gave myself five years to do this as I had long wanted to work with food, but now, after 12 years, I clearly enjoyed it.”
February 15 - April 15, 2024
KerrisdaleInsider.com
