A Cornish fudge producer is to double production with a new factory that will enable it to expand nationwide and supply the mults.
The Buttermilk Confectionery Company has invested £500,000 in the new facility in Bodmin – eight miles from its current location in Wadebridge - that will consolidate the company’s production, sales and warehousing into one site. The purpose-built factory, which will be BRC accredited, is expected to open by January 2015 and will increase production capacity from six and half tonnes to 10 tonnes.
Currently the company supplies its branded products to the tourist trade in and around the South West and for John Lewis hampers, as well as producing own label fudge for local shops. The factory investment is intended to develop a year-round business and allow the company to focus on national distribution and export opportunities, head of sales David Roberts said. It currently exports fudge to Sweden, New Zealand and Switzerland.
NatWest bank, which part-funded the investment, said the move was a sign of growing optimism in the market. ”We’re seeing more of this kind of investment happening,” added NatWest senior relationship manager Rory Carter. “People are more confident to take that little bit of risk. Cornish food and drink products have a really strong reputation at the moment so there’s a lot of optimism in this sector.”
Family-run Buttermilk rolled out refreshed packaging at the end of 2013 as part of its refocus on retail lines, and is adding new retail gift boxes and Christmas lines from September. The new luxury all-butter fudge taper boxes come in four flavours: vanilla, caramel, Cornish sea salt, chocolate and Irish cream.
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