Sweetdreams Scoop Small Business of the Year 2021

Posted on 1st October 2021

PRESS RELEASE

NORTHUMBERLAND based confectionery manufacturer Sweetdreams Ltd, the company behind nostalgic chocolate brand Choc Nibbles, scooped the prestigious title of ‘Small Business of the Year’ Award 2021 at the North East Business Awards.

Sweetdreams Ltd is an ambitious, family run, confectionery manufacturer headed up by husband and wife team, Matthew & Cath Stephenson.  The company produces a distinctively different range of chocolate products, manufacturing the wonderfully quirky and nostalgic Choc Nibbles range of chocolate treats. And, also operate a market leading chocolate coating and panning business, supplying a B2B service to the food and confectionery industries.

Since the Stephenson’s acquisition of the business in 2007, the business has developed and diversified. Sweetdreams’ growth has hit double digit year on year. Despite an incredibly challenging year due to the pandemic, sales grew by 16% across the business, whilst maintaining grade ‘A’ BRC (British Retail Consortium) Global Food Safety Standard.

From a 25,000sqft unit in Northumberland, with a relatively small work force, Sweetdreams have created a brand in Choc Nibbles that is now worth over £3,500,000 at retail.  Their fine, high quality chocolate coated confectionery can be found in the likes of Aldi, Morrisons, Waitrose and many more.

Matthew said, “Winning ‘Small Business of the Year’ at the North East Business Awards is a fantastic achievement for the ever growing team here at Sweetdreams.  For me personally, I have grown up in this region and always valued the kudos and respect these awards have in the North East.

This is a true reflection of a fantastic team effort. Every single member of staff is incredibly important in creating the business it is today and their contribution to our collective success in winning this award.

We’re proud to be based in Cramlington, Northumberland; we are a skilled workforce creating beautiful, tasty chocolate products, shipped nationwide and more recently, worldwide.  Now endorsed as a ‘Living Wage’ Employer, we have also embarked on a journey, and making real progress, in our mission to enhancing our sustainability credentials.

By the end of this year, we will install a brand-new chocolate bar line at the factory, that will add to the range of products we have to offer.  In addition to this, we are creating a new confectionery brand reflecting our business values of sustainable and quality confectionery, generating skilled jobs in the North East. The future is super exciting for Sweetdreams and I love being part of it.”

The ‘North East Business Awards’ are the highlight of the North East Awards calendar. It provides companies the opportunity to showcase their ongoing commitment to world-class quality, innovation and service excellence, which boost the economy, enrich local areas and support young talent.

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For more information, contact Matthew or Cath Stephenson on 01670 738435 or email info@sweetdreamsconfectionery.com

Photo Gallery from the Awards Ceremony

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