Retail expansion for Choc Nibbles producer

UK confectionery manufacturer Sweetdreams has revealed it is looking to expand its existing facilities or move to larger premises after securing contracts with two UK discount retailers.

Following a £100,000 ($124,121) investment in Sweetdreams’ factory earlier this year, including the installation of new packaging equipment, Choc Nibbles is now available in B&M Stores and branches of Iceland across the UK, as well as selected Poundland and Poundworld stores.

Traditionally only sold in 3kg units to wholesalers, Sweetdreams says the investment has allowed the company to develop new packaging formats with smaller runs and new distribution channels, extending Choc Nibbles’ reach.

Sweetdreams’ contract with B&M Stores has seen 250g bags of Original Choc Nibbles distributed throughout its stores, retailing at £0.99 per pack, with a new 915g jar branded under Olde Sam’s Sweet Shop range also available for £4.99. A 185g bag of Posh Choc Nibbles will also be introduced in the new year, with an RRP of £0.99.

In addition, both mint and original Choc Nibbles are available in 780g jars at UK Iceland stores, branded under the Retro Sweets range, with orange flavour Choc Nibbles being sold at selected stores.

Sweetdreams’ initial forecasts for 2016 estimated that around 10,000 bags of Choc Nibbles would be produced per month – a total of 120,000 bags per year. However, this annual target was met in under six weeks, with the business now producing 75,000 bags per month – a figure which is expected to grow as new contracts are won.

Sweetdreams owner and managing director Matthew Stephenson said, “We know we have a great product but realised that we could only go so far relying on the wholesale market and that significant investment was needed if we were to grow the business and expand into the retail sector.

“Our initial aim was to increase turnover by 10% year-on-year and we have far exceeded that this year already. We are now looking at either further investment in our existing facilities to grow capacity or a move to larger premises to keep up with demand.”

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