Tangerine swallows Wham brand

TANGERINE Confectionery, the Blackpool-based sweet manufacturer, has made its first acquisition since it was sold to US private equity giant Blackstone.

It has bought the Wham bar brand from administrators of Scottish business McCowans, which failed in September with more than 180 job losses.

Manufacturing of Wham will move south to Tangerine’s factories in Blackpool and York.

Lat year more than 20 million Wham bars were sold, and Steven Joseph, chairman of Tangerine – which also makes Refresher sweets – told The Times newspaper: “‘People love Wham bars and they’ll continue to do so.

“We’re very pleased to have done the deal as it increased our branded presence.”