Tangerine in double sweet brand swoop

Tangerine Confectionery has snapped up 232-year old travel sweet brand Smith Kendon along with its stablemate York Fruits.

The two brands, which have a combined retail value of £3m, were bought from Smith Kendon, which was established by ex-banker Coralie Tomlinson in 2006 to save the travel sweet brand, then owned by The Wrigley Company, from extinction.

Tomlinson bought York Fruits from Terry’s of York in 2008.

Tangerine said the brands would complement its existing Taveners Travel Tin and Fruit Jelly ranges.The purchase follows its acquisition of Wham and Highland Toffee in October.

“To start the new year bringing these two great brands into our portfolio is a real coup,” said marketing director Alison Brand.