Bon Bon Buddies aims to expand further in Europe
The confectionery company has rapidly developed over the past year, evolving from solely a sweet licensing company, to manufacturing its own confectionery products, as a result of its acquisition of Derbyshire chocolate and confectionery production company Dovedale Confectionery in May 2010.
Move to in house production
Until 12 months ago, BBB was 100 per cent Licensed Character focused, designing, tooling, and sourcing all BBB product from third party manufacturers, but the recent acquisitionof Dovedale has meant thata proportion of the BBB product that was previously outsourced will now be manufactured in house.
BBB believes that the Dovedale acquisition will help to elevate the company’s European presence as a strong participant in the competitive chocolate production market.
Managing director Chris Howarth told FoodProductionDaily that it is aiming to double annual production at the new Dovedale subsidiary and said that increased production is something he is looking to achieve across all of the company’s acquisitions.
“The investment in the factory includes infrastructure, additional key management team members, plant and machinery including a variety of new foiling and wrapping machines in order to increase unit cost productivity,” he said.
BBB is using the facility for the company’s own product ranges for both confectionery licensed product categories and its own brand, Kshocolât.
Acquisitions
BBB is the biggest supplier of licensed confectionery and novelty biscuits in Europe with a projected £35m turnover for 2010.
The company said it is always looking to enhance the output of all of its subsidiaries and is keeping an eye out for future acquisitions.
Howarth said: “If something comes along that fits us and is affordable then we will look at it. We’re keeping an open mind.”
BBB has also developed its group portfolio this year through the acquisition of TeePee Creative in April, a licenser of confectionery toy and gift products, and Kshocolât, a gift chocolate firm that BBB bought in March after Kshocolât went into administration.
Company directors, Chris and Pauline Howarth set up BBB 17 years a go after they saw a gap in the UK market for licensed confectionery gifts. Since then, BBB has licensed and sold branded children’s confectionery, including that of Star Wars, Disney and Hello Kitty.
