Creators of Shelter Brewing Co move into chocolate with new foreshore venture

One of the region’s most successful brewing companies is branching out into the world of sweets to offer an immersive chocolate experience in the heart of Busselton. The Geographe Bay Brewing Co last month secured the lease to reactivate an old tennis club building to create a yet to be named premium chocolate hospitality venue. The venture is the latest brainchild of two fourth-generation Capes families, brothers Matt, Jason, Mike and Chris Credaro and brothers Zeb and Asher Packard-Hair who joined forces last year to start the successful Shelter Brewing Co. Zeb Packard-Hair said the new project planned to showcase everything chocolate by allowing visitors and locals to get a look behind the scenes into the production process, offer tastings, classes, workshops and events. “We believe that a chocolate company will not only enhance the foreshore and Busselton’s offerings, but it’ll attract more locals and visitors to the area which is a win for everyone,” he said. “We’re fiercely proud of Busselton and love the foreshore — Shelter is invested in, and committed to, making it a great place to visit.” Award-winning WA architect Paul Burnham has been engaged to finalise designs for the new building which will see it renovated to simplify the design while complementing the surrounding structures. Should the City of Busselton approve final renovation plans, more than 90 jobs will be created including upwards of 50 construction jobs and 40 full-time employees once the business opens. “Seeing the foreshore transform in recent years, with Shelter being a part of that transformation, has been very rewarding (and) a chocolate company can only make it better,” he said. “A rising tide lifts all boats and we see the chocolate venue as an opportunity to collaborate with other local businesses, whether it’s with suppliers to make unique flavoured chocolate or with other tourism businesses to package up experiences. “We want visitors to make Busselton their destination not merely a stop on the way further south.” The old tennis club is located at the end of Busselton’s Queen street, and adjacent to the Shelter Brewing Co on the Busselton foreshore.