Sweet deal in Spain for Newry’s candy producer

The sweets have been supplied to supermarkets in the Malaga region by Crilly’s Confections, Ireland’s only remaining manufacturer of boiled sweets, which recently won its first export business for its handmade premium confectionery in the holiday hub.

The family-owned business has supplied its successful range of bags of premium sweets to a distributor for stores throughout the region.

The deal, according to Crilco director David Crilly, followed an approach from the specialist confectionery distributor who had heard about the company’s popular range of boiled sweets and was keen to introduce them to Malaga.

“We were thrilled by the distributor’s approach and his comments about the outstanding quality and variety of our bagged sweets and our success in other parts of Europe as well as China,” David says.

The lockdowns, he continues, meant Crilco had to develop the business by email, phone and social media. “While it’s not, of course, an ideal way to do business it worked for us. The situation has been extremely challenging everywhere over the past year. We aim to meet the distributor when the restrictions are lifted and we are able to travel again. We are keen in particular to host a visit to our plant in Newry by him.

“Our market research also showed that Spain has considerable potential for premium confectionery and especially in the Costas where there are so many people from Britain and Ireland. Demand for quality confectionery in Spain is continuing to grow strongly.

“The Malaga deal gives up an important springboard to grow our business across Spain in the months and years ahead. To this end, we’ll be working closely with the distributor to explore further business opportunities.” he adds.

The successful enterprise, which employs 30 people, also sells its range of boiled sweets, all made in Newry, to customers in the Republic of Ireland, the US, Australia, Germany, Italy, France and the Czech Republic. Great Britain, however, remains the company’s biggest single market and one it has targeted for further and faster growth over the next few years. Recent successes there include a substantial deal with discount retailer B&M Bargains.

Crilco, which was established in 1974 by David’s father Peter, is the last remaining producer of boiled sweets in Ireland and among a small number in the UK.

The company produces its confectionery by traditional methods of mixing sugar and glucose and flavours. It currently produces 50,000 bags of sweets every day, which equates to a million bags of hard boiled treats a month.

It is now one of Northern Ireland’s leading food exporters to China and a role model for smaller businesses throughout the region. Indeed, it’s one of the unsung heroes in Northern Ireland exports to the Asian giant. Recent orders there include deals of almost £1 million especially for the nation’s dynamic pick and mix outlets. Crilly’s traditional sweets, such as mint humbugs, blackcurrant and liquorice and jelly babies, have become top sellers there.

Extensive investment in new high-speed production and wrapping systems is enabling the business to meet the growing global demand for its wide range of confectionery.

David continues: “We have invested substantially in productivity systems and marketing activities in key markets, especially China, to develop the exciting opportunities for our range of confectionery. Export markets like China require commitment, patience, speed of response and flexibility.”

Investment in new machinery has been supported by the acquisition of new and much larger warehousing. “This enables to us to exploit other opportunities we’ve pinpointed in China and other markets and to meet demands for greater volumes,” he adds.

As well an extensive range of boiled confectionery, the business manufactures such longstanding favourites as jelly babies, jelly beans, cough drops, wine gums and vanilla fudge, all handmade in the Newry factory. Pear drops remain the company’s biggest seller. New products such as a range of menthol cough sweets are in the pipeline.

While much of the confectionery appears under the Crilly’s own brand, a broad range of sweets is also made for other manufacturers in Britain and Ireland. Vast expertise and knowledge in developing its own recipes for sweets also means it can respond quickly with original products such as the current trend towards alcohol-styled sweets like gin and tonic, mojito, whiskey and cola, and prosecco gums.

David shares decision making with father Peter and brother Ciaran. Peter set up the business in Newry city centre in 1974 on the back of experience with Mars in Slough and from making traditional rock and boiled sweets at Blackpool. He had gone to England from Newry, his home town, at the age of 16 in search of employment opportunities. He’s now creating jobs in Newry.

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