A speciality chocolate manufacturer based in Caerphilly has signed a £290,000 a year deal with supermarket Tesco.
Oncocoa, based at Welsh ICE on Caerphilly Business Park, only started trading in May this year and will now supply all 55 of Tesco’s main stores, as well as some selected Metro and express stores in Wales.
The company will be supplying a minimum of 7,000 units a month, with the supermarket stocking eight different products over six seasons – including Christmas, Valentines, St. David’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, and Halloween.
Oncocoa, which is supported by the Welsh Government’s High Potential Start-up programme, now employs four people, and is taking on another four with potentially more jobs to follow.
Mike Mills, Creative Director at Oncocoa, said: “This is an exciting time for our company. It is in no small way thanks to the work we have been doing with the Welsh Government’s ‘high growth’ programme that we have been able to develop such a robust and sustainable long-term growth strategy for our business.
“Their support has also helped us to avoid some of the many pitfalls often associated with ‘high growth’ and we are now very confident for the future of our business.”
Oncocoa was formed when two Caerphilly-based businesses found their combination of skills provided the perfect basis for a new business.
Dave Hughes, had been making and supplying chocolates for ten years and had built up a reputation for his artisan chocolate creations, which he supplied to numerous local and national retail outlets.
Mike Mills, and his colleague Ben Robertson ran a product design business designing retail products for high street chains such as Clinton Cards, WH Smith, H Samuel and many other leading corporate brands.
The two businesses joined forces and Oncocoa was established.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said; ”This is quite a considerable achievement for a small start-up business. I am delighted it is being supported through the High Potential Start-Up programme that is geared to ensure that companies like Oncocoa are given the help they need to reach their potential, create new jobs and make a valuable contribution to the local economy.”