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)