27/11/2019

Newry Sweet Producer Wins £250k Contract In China

A sweet production company based in Newry is to begin stocking shops in China after striking a deal worth £250,000.

Crillys Sweets is aiming to grow its business in China to around £1 million over the next year with the help of the new contract.

The family-owned and managed firm is the only manufacturer of boiled sweets in Ireland, and one of just three in the UK.

It employs 30 people in its Flagstaff factory and in addition to China, sells confectionary to leading UK retailers including discounters B&M, Poundland. Crilly's also exports to the Republic of Ireland, the US, Australia, Germany, Italy, France and the Czech Republic.

The new contract, valued at £250k for its first year, is the second significant piece of business the firm has secured in China in the last eighteen months. It will see Crilly's popular range go on sale throughout the world's most populated country, particularly in pix and mix outlets.

The firm has substantially increased its capacity and sweet output through recent investments in new production and wrapping machinery.

David Crilly, Director of Crilly's Sweets, told of how the deal came to fruition: "We met representatives from our latest customers at one of a number of confectionary business shows we attend every year including a hugely successful event in Shanghai. They were interested in our range and enjoyed the quality and flavours of our products and subsequently visited Newry for a few days and our plant in Newry for further discussions.

"As a result of these talks and a tour of the factory with the new high-speed production and wrapping machinery, they placed two significant orders on the days of their visits."



(JG/CM)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

10 February 2015
Purepipe To Invest £250,000 And Create Six New Jobs
Belfast-based Purepipe is investing £250,000 and creating six new jobs as part of plans to boost sales in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has offered the company £45,000 towards its expansion which involves investing in new state-of-the-art specialised pipe manufacturing equipment needed to target new business.
01 July 2010
Sweet Success As Tate & Lyle Sells Business
Tate & Lyle has sold its European sugar business (EUS) to an American Sugar Refining for £211 million in cash. The company said the proceeds will be used to reduce its net debt.
11 November 2014
Lisburn Firm Wins Business In China
AB Pneumatics in Lisburn has won new business in China worth around £600,000 a year with assistance from Invest Northern Ireland. The contract, announced at the start of the latest Invest NI trade mission to China, involves the supply of air springs for vehicle seating to Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG) in Shanghai.
05 November 2014
Antrim Firm Scoops Business In China
Fast Engineering in Antrim has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to win business worth around £100,000 in China. The company is supplying its portable FASTANK liquid storage systems for environmental clean-up operations at a major chemical plant in Shanghai.
12 March 2013
Dunmurry Firm Scoops Contract In China
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the first contract in China won by Brookvent, the Dunmurry ventilation specialists. The Minister said: "Winning the £50,000 contract to design, manufacture and supply bespoke window vents to a new high-rise apartment block in Shanghai is a very significant development for this export-focused company.