FDBusiness.com

UK-based chocolatier Sweetdreams has invested £500,000 in a new 15,000 sq ft factory which will drastically increase the company’s output and create a variety of new jobs. Sweetdreams, the creator of Choc Nibbles, has experienced unprecedented growth in the past twelve months and now the business is looking forward to maintaining its rapid rise in the confectionery industry as it prepares to move into a larger factory, recruit across the business and launch a variety of new products.

The factory move has been made possible through substantial company growth of 32% over the past financial year. This has been achieved in part from extended discount sector penetration, new product development, international export, including the company’s first export to Ireland, and proactive development of the extensive existing customer base. The new factory, based in Cramlington, has been built to BRC (British Retail Consortium) standards with the expectation of achieving the globally recognised accreditation within six months.

The new unit is 50% larger than the existing factory and will allow Sweetdreams to double output at a minimum. The factory will initially produce 25 tonnes of product per week with capacity for more.

Matthew Stephenson, owner and managing director of Sweet Dreams, comments: “This is a really exciting time for Sweetdreams – we identified a gap in the market for a high end chocolate coated product and so we have invested £200,000 in panning and coating technology. This new process will allow us to enhance existing product offerings, develop new products and reach out to brand new markets and customers. I am delighted with the new premises, Sweetdreams has doubled in size over the past two years and by investing in the best technology and people possible my intention is to cycle that standard of growth every three years moving forward.”

He continues: “We are already a leading confectionery brand in the UK and we now have the capacity, standards and infrastructure to grow the success of Sweetdreams exponentially – increasing our national and international impact. As part of the expansion, three new senior staff members are already in role. All leading names in the confectionery world, Andy Baxendale – star of the recent BBC documentary ‘The Sweet Makers’, Mike Flower and Mark Robinson come with a range of influence, experience and technical skill as well as over 100 years of combined chocolate making experience.”

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Matthew and Cathy Stephenson, owners of Choc Nibbles.