UK gourmet fudge company racing to keep up with demand over Christmas period

The company’s Canterbury-based production team has doubled in size during the festive season to manage the surge in orders, a company spokesperson said.

The Department for International Trade (DIT)said the growing taste for British fudge is not just limited to the domestic market, as last year the UK exported £24.2m ($31.47m) worth of toffee, caramel and similar sweets – a 20% increase from 2017 and an increase of over 62.4% over the past five years. 

With 27 employees and an annual turnover of £1.2m, Fudge Kitchen is tapping into this global demand having recently secured a new deal with Canadian speciality food buyer Dovetale. This will see the company’s luxury confectionery sold in over 30 stores across Canada, increasing its turnover by 2.5%.

Fudge Kitchen met its Canadian buyer at ISM Cologne 2019 – the world’s largest trade fair for confectionery and snacks, where the DIT supported the company with Trade Access Programme (TAP) funding and market advice.

Fudge Kitchen Managing Director Sîan Holt said: “International sales have positively contributed to our annual turnover which has been steadily growing over the last few years, with exporting currently representing around 16% of revenue​.

“Since we started selling overseas, we have made great friends all over the world. I would encourage other businesses to consider exploring overseas markets. There is nothing to lose provided you seek advice before taking a major plunge​.”

As well as Canada, Fudge Kitchen has also secured six-figure deals in Germany and the UAE, worth nearly half a million pounds over the next five years.

Ben Raby, head of region, South East at DIT said: “Christmas is a really busy time of year for businesses across the UK and it is great to see Fudge Kitchen tap into the global demand for British food and drink to sustain its growth year-round​.”