Cemoi private label subsidiary eyes Asia

13-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 13-Nov-2012 at 12:31 GMT

OP Chocolate currently exports 10% of its products from its factory in Wales

Welsh premium private label confectioner OP Chocolate, part of the Cemoi Group, has secured a financing deal to help it move into international markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

Bruce Tomlinson, managing director at OP Chocolate , said: “We are part of an international group, so growth overseas is obviously part of our agenda.”

“We see significant opportunities, particularly from Asia, and the additional production capacity we put in this year will enable us to compete internationally.“

“We have also broadened our product range, so we are very excited about the future.”

The company has secured a seven figure financing deal with HSBC to help it grow in international markets.

Export boost

OP Chocolate currently exports 10% of its chocolate and wafer products, but believes there is room for further growth abroad.

The firm has a capacity of 10,000 tons of wafer and chocolate products that it produces for private label customers, which it says includes major UK high street retailers and supermarkets.

Products are produced from the company’s factory in Merthyr, Wales, where OP Chocolate added a new production line earlier this year, which upped capacity by 33% and created 30 jobs.

Since 1991, the company has been part of the French Cemoi Group, which turned over €723m ($916m) in 2011.