Tangerine Confectionery acquires Smith Kendon brands
The company has acquired Smith Kendon Travel Sweets and York Fruits from private ownership.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
UK fruit jelly giant
The company said that the York Fruits acquisition made it the UK market leader in fruit flavoured jellies. Together York Fruits and Tangerine’s existing brand Taveners Fruit Jellies take the top two spots within the category, it said.
Tangerine added that the Smith Kendon travel sweet brand would complement its Taveners Travel Tin range which is primarily sold to export markets. It said the Smith Kendon brand had wide distribution in the major supermarkets as well as travel retail.
Production of the new brands will take place in outsourced manufacturing facilities in mainland Europe. The company did not acquire new facilities with the transaction. It currently has seven factories, all in the UK.
Alison Brand, marketing director for Tangerine Confectionery, said: “To be starting the new year bringing these two great brands in to our portfolio is a real coup for the business, particularly in such quick succession of Wham and Highland Toffee.”
Recent brand acquisitions
In October last year, Tangerine acquired Wham bar and Highland Toffee brands from McCowan’s for an undisclosed fee.
The company, which is just five years old, has seen its turnover treble since its inception to around £160m (€194m).
The new brands
Smith Kendon was acquired by Kraft in the Eighties before it was sold to The Wrigley Company in 2005.
Private owners acquired the Smith Kendon travel sweet brand after Wrigley ditched the brand in 2006.
The private owners then acquired York Fruits from Terry’s of York after it too faced extinction.
The additions add to Tangerine’s portfolio, which includes Barratt, Butterkist and Henry Goode.
