A sweet manufacturer which won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise has been congratulated on its business success.
Bon Bon Buddies Ltd, based on Oakdale Business Park, is one of Europe’s leading supplier of licensed character and branded confectionery products.
This year it won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, BBB is led by founder and Managing Director Chris Howarth, who identified a niche in the market in 1993.
Sales grew to £13 million by 2003 and were further bolstered when the company started exporting. Sales continued to grow rapidly year-on-year, rising to £39 million in 2012.
Employing 155 staff, the company has eight dedicated European sales and logistics facilities with further distribution in Central Eastern Europe, the Middle East and China.
Bon Bon Buddies also owns its own UK chocolate factory which manufactures its own products as well as those for major confectionery brands.
With 90% of the range under leading license brands such as Disney, Warner Bros, Marvel, BBC, Mattel and Hasbro, the company is the only license business in Europe to offer a complete product.
The company exports to 40 countries including the majority of EU countries and in 2012 entered a number of new markets including Finland, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Middle East.
It aims to grow sales over the next five years to in excess of £80 million and the proportion of non-UK sales from 57% to over 75%.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart hosted Bon Bon Buddies, and five other Welsh firms, at a Welsh Government reception recognising their success in gaining the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
She said: “Internationalisation and innovation are key priorities for the Welsh Government and both are vital components of company growth and success which is why we are making significant investment in both of these areas.
“The achievements of these six companies also illustrate that size is no barrier to success as a number are small companies that are competing on the world stage and leaders in their field.
“These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievement and are internationally recognised, providing a great marketing and advertising opportunity for companies that can use them as a symbol of their quality and success.
“I congratulate all six companies on their awards and would encourage other businesses in Wales to seriously consider entering the awards next year.”