The co-founders of Hotel Chocolat are set to receive millions after agreeing to sell their British business to Mars.
Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris wil pocket £144million each as a result of the £534million sale.
The chocolatier has around 124 shops in the UK, including a presence in Aberdeen's Union Square, as well as a scattering of units abroad.
"It started as a couple of guys in a room with a shared telephone,” said Mr Thirlwell, in an interview with The Telegraph.
"It was a unique idea, very niche, which was personalised, refreshing peppermints, with companies’ branding."
Mr Thirlwell grew up in an entrepreneurial family. His father, Edwin Thirlwell, invented and trademarked Mr Whippy in the UK.
Set up in 1993, the business grew rapidly, but has faltered in the UK in recent times.
It posted a £800,000 loss in the half-year to July, down from a £21.7million profit the year prior.
The new regime will see Mr Thirlwell stay on as the companies CEO, though there are no plans to sell Mars products in the stores.
The businessman says the sale will help Hotel Chocolat "scale much more quickly".
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