Jobs saved after liquorice-maker acquisition
The trade and assets of Maxilin Ltd, a branded liquorice confectionery business based in Bolton, have been acquired by a newly-formed subsidiary of Confections Ltd.
The new subsidiary, The Super Flyers Factory (TSFF), will sit alongside sister companies Stockley’s Sweets, based in Blackburn, and Hull firm Chocley’s. A second Confections site in Bolton will also become part of TSFF.
Liquorice Flyers, the company’s leading brand, are liquorice sticks hand-filled with crystallised sugar centres. Other products include Liquorice and Blackcurrant Flyers, and Strawberry Flyers.
‘Confident’ of success
Confections managing director Mark Adcock said he was “confident” that TSFF would be successful.
“It has a great brand with unique products and a strong customer base, now underpinned with the resources and capabilities of a broad-based confectionery business operating from four UK-based factories,” he said.
“The business has a good fit with its sister companies Stockley’s Sweets and Chocley’s.”
Confections was formed by senior food industry executives with a number of years’ experience in the UK and international confectionery markets.
Adcock was previously head of Raisio’s Confectionery Division, which included Big Bear Confectionery and Nimbus Foods in the UK, as well as Candy Plus in the Czech Republic.
Former chief executive
Non-executive chairman Paul Simmonds is a former chief executive of several multi-million pound food businesses across the UK and EU.
Another Maxilin company was saved from closure in August, when the assets of R Crawford (Northern) Ltd – known as Crawford & Tilley – were sold to the Paramount Retail Group.
The move safeguarded the future of 35 jobs across two sites – in Thrapston, Northants, and Hadfield, Derbyshire.
It followed the August acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery to Valeo Foods Group in a deal worth around £100m. Tangerine operates five UK factories.
