Cramlington sweet manufacturer Sweet Dreams is set to boost its operations, create jobs and break into new markets after tapping into funding.
The confectionery company, which makes the popular Choc Nibbles brand as well as supplying sweets to leading retailers throughout the UK, has secured £92,000 from the North of Tyne Growth Fund. The company, led by husband and wife team Matt and Cath Stephenson, is using the grant to hire more staff, buy new machinery and increase its product range to include chocolate bars as well as plans for vegan and plant-based products.
The funding comes from the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the European Regional Development Fund. Mr Stephenson, said: “It’s the first time we ever had any support. Our chocolate bar line wouldn’t have happened without NTCA’s investment. We’ve got an exciting thing here – and the new funding took the pressure off.
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“Adding to our ability to offer chocolate-coated confectionery, we now have a state-of-the-art depositing line, that can produce plain bars, bars with inclusions and even plant-based vegan options.”
During a recent visit, the North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll saw the chocolate production process in full effect, meeting workers in the company offices and on the factory floor – including some of the new staff funded by the NTCA award – operating out of their base in Admiral Business Park.
As well as new workers, the funding will help Sweet Dreams to expand its manufacturing space into a new factory next door, installing power outlets for machines, creating four new production lines including more depositing capacity, ‘one shot moulding’ as well as hollow mould technology, and an additional ten jobs.
Sweet Dreams is a national living wage employer and hires on a permanent, not seasonal, basis.
Mr Driscoll said: “Nobody wants to see local companies squeezed out of our high streets and business parks. That’s why we set up the North of Tyne Growth Fund. We want to help local small and medium sized enterprises to grow, to create jobs, to put money back into our region.
“It was great to see how Sweet Dreams is thriving with support from North of Tyne funding. I’m keen to see what happens next for them.”
Being a small family company in a space dominated by global brands has helped the Stephensons carve out Sweet Dreams’ niche, working with everyone from big name High Street retailers to small independent brands that are more creative and innovative. White label products for other companies make up about 40% of Sweet Dreams’ outputs and the company can take on smaller, more creative jobs that bigger companies would refuse.
The North of Tyne Growth Fund was set up to support SMEs across Northumberland, North Tyneside, and Newcastle to create employment opportunities and stimulate business growth.
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