A chocolate business which aims to improve the lives of young autistic people have won a contract which will see their products sold at one of the UK’s biggest supermarkets. 

Mona Shah, who founded Harry Specters in Ely, and her husband Shaz pitched an idea to sell some of their chocolate bars on Channel 4’s Aldi’s Next Big Thing on November 24. 

And after winning over Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, the couple will now see their items sold on the supermarket’s shelves. 

“Social impact wise, it’s going to be massive,” said Shaz. 

“When we told our team of autistic workers that we were going to be supplying Aldi, it just filled them with confidence; it was truly amazing.” 

Harry Specters, where autistic people are involved in making and packaging chocolate from its Ely factory, will see three of its flavoured items in Aldi supermarkets across the UK. 

These include milk sea salt caramel, milk peanut butter and dark orange for £2.49 per 100g. 

Ely Standard: Mona and Shaz Shah, of Harry Specters in Ely, won a contract to sell some of their items in Aldi supermarkets.Mona and Shaz Shah, of Harry Specters in Ely, won a contract to sell some of their items in Aldi supermarkets. (Image: Channel 4/Clarion Comms)

The company was founded by Mona and named by her son Ash, who is autistic. 

Mona, a keen baker, was concerned about Ash’s future and after speaking to parents of other autistic children and browsing a chocolate shop in Scotland, decided to launch her own company. 

“We looked up some statistics and found 85 per cent of autistic people are unemployed and 61 per cent of them are desperate to work,” said Mona. 

“We wanted to do something not just for him [Ash] but others like him.” 

Chocolate bars from Harry Specters, founded by Mona, were also named alongside a Yorkshire pudding beer to be chosen by Aldi. 

“Choosing between beer and chocolate was just too tough,” said Ms Ashfield.  

“They are both fantastic products and it just felt right to make both winners.” 

Ms Ashfield added: “You could see how much it meant to both of them and I’m confident our shoppers are going to enjoy these fantastic treats.” 

Harry Specters featured on Aldi’s Next Big Thing, hosted by Countryfile presenter Anita Rani and Eat Well for Less? host Chris Bavin, where suppliers compete for a space on Aldi’s shelves.