Hotel Chocolat smashes ‘Movember’ fundraising target in memory of late colleague

Hotel Chocolat staff have smashed their Movember fundraising target for men’s mental health, launched in memory of their late colleague Nick Bishop.

The top lips of employees at Hotel Chocolat’s HQ, in stores and at its Huntington manufacturing facility remained unshaved throughout November, raising £19,709 in total, smashing the original goal of £18,500.

It added to more than £61,000 raised over the past four years, since the campaign was launched following Bishop’s diagnosis with prostate cancer in 2021.

After his diagnosis Bishop, a senior systems manager at Hotel Chocolat, refused to take time off and continued working for the business throughout the majority of his treatment. He encouraged many of his colleagues to also get their own prostate cancer checks. Several have since been diagnosed and caught their own cancers early enough to be treated, Hotel Chocolat said. 

Bishop passed away in April 2025.

“He remained so positive throughout all of this treatment and was always encouraging to others to get checked or to those who were also going through similar treatments,” Hotel Chocolat said.

Around 30 Hotel Chocolat colleagues took part in the challenge, including founder and global CEO Angus Thirlwell.

To commemorate Bishop’s 60^th birthday in November, his daughter Lauren also took part in fundraising efforts by running 60 miles to raise money for Arthur Rank Hospice, which treated Bishop.

Aside from the sponsored tashes, Hotel Chocolat held a company-wide auction with prizes including a five-night stay in its luxury hotel in Saint Lucia, football tickets and a guided tour of its Huntington factory.

The business has also been raising awareness among its employees about male suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. It included asking colleagues to pledge to, or ask the men in their lives to, enquire about prostate cancer screening.

“This year we lost a dear colleague to prostate cancer, so all our efforts are dedicated to his memory,” said Gemma Fleuren, director of supply planning at Hotel Chocolat. 

“Engagement across the business to grow amazing moustaches, donate, learn and support has been fantastic both in the UK and the US – from our co-founder and global CEO through to our store, fulfilment, and manufacturing team members and beyond. We’re so proud to now be members of the Movember hall of fame, having raised a total of £60,000.”