Expanding luxury confectionery business shifts to bigger base

After consecutive years of growth a confectionery business is relocating to Moorside Business Park in Tockwith, North Yorkshire.

Bon Bon’s (Wholesale) Ltd provides luxury confectionery for high-end independent retailers and visitor attractions, and in 2019 purchased hf Chocolates, an importer, distributor and wholesaler of fine chocolates and novelties.

The business has seen year-on-year expansion, with hf Chocolates alone increasing by 40% since its acquisition. It has out-grown its current home at nearby Thorpe Arch, in Wetherby.

At 56,600 sq ft, the Moorside site is more than double the footprint of Bon Bon’s current premises, providing room to grow. It will also bring all Bon Bon’s and hf Chocolate operations under one roof which further increases efficiencies.

The building has been renovated prior to the move, with Bon Bon’s investing about £1m in its fabric and infrastructure.

A new roof has been fitted with a 100kW array of monocrystalline solar panels which should generate about 80,000 kWh of electricity per year. Three new clean rooms extend the company’s packing capabilities.

Steve Campbell

Steve Campbell, managing director, said: “This move highlights a significant period in Bon Bon’s growth. We have aggressive expansion plans which simply weren’t possible due to space constraints at our previous site.

“At the same time, it was important to maintain our Yorkshire roots as most of our staff live within 10 miles of our facility.

“Moorside met and exceeded all our requirements. All our current 63 staff will move with the business, so we retain our Bon Bon’s ‘family’ as well as their knowledge and expertise. The plan is to continue to employ locally as we grow.

“Our investment in this building has been significant – we’re here for the long-term.

“We plan to grow the building as we grow the business with plans already in place to increase our solar panels.”