UK sweet brand Uncle Joe’s receives first order from United States since COVID-19 outbreak

The order, from American speciality foods importer British Delights, of Westford, Massachusetts, is for 600 packets of traditional and sugar-free mint balls as well as 60 x 800g share jars, 50 x 2kg bulk bags and 30 x 250g share cartons.

Uncle Joe’s is also starting to receive foreign enquiries for product availability and pricing, the latest coming from a firm in Texas, according to John Winnard, joint managing director of Uncle Joe’s.

He said foreign orders had been affected due to the uncertainty and restrictions caused by coronavirus but that it appeared confidence was starting to return to the market.

He told ConfectioneryNews the coronavirus pandemic had resulted in the cancellation of two major trade shows (the Food and Drink Expo 2020, interpack,) and with the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York this month also cancelled, export demand across the industry had suffered a large and unforeseen drop.

British Delights

He said: “We have a good, long-standing relationship with British Delights and they had been ordering from us every six to eight weeks up until January, when coronavirus uncertainty started to have an effect on all foreign orders.​

“It is great that this type of order is returning and we are hoping that it is a sign of increased confidence across the marketplace.”​

British Delights serves a network of British Stores across the Eastern Seaboard, which provide British expats with the foods they miss from home.