Member Article

FOUR NEW SENIOR APPOINTMENTS FOR BRITISH CHOCOLATIER

BRITISH chocolatier Sweetdreams Ltd, has welcomed four new senior managers to the team after investing £500,000 in a new 15,000 sq. ft. factory.

Mike Flower (operations director), Andy Baxendale (technical director) and Mark Robinson (non-executive director) are arguably the best chocolate experts in the country and will join the team at the very top of their respective fields with Alex Roberts adding his expertise to the role of financial director.

Mike Flower joins the team from his role as commercial director at Three Crowns Confectionery Ltd. With over 40 years in the confectionery industry as founding director of York Dragee as well as Horsley Hick and Flower – Mike is at the top of the confectionery industry working with chocolate panning technology as well as confectionery new product development. As operations director, Mike will take control of the manufacturing of Choc Nibbles, as well as the development of Sweetdreams Ltd’s other chocolate panned products.

Fresh from his appearance on “The Sweet Makers”, which aired on BBC Two in the summer of 2017, Andy Baxendale, more commonly known as the Sweet Consultant, has been appointed as technical director. Andy’s experience lies in all things confectionery and he will manage the development of products, recipes and legislation as well as giving technical advice and driving quality assurance.

Andy has been retained as technical director to enhance technical standards as well as delivering the globally recognised BRC (British Retail Consortium) standard in early 2018. A key player in the British chocolate making industry, Mark Robinson has returned from retirement and is now in role as non-executive director. Mark said, “Being part of Sweetdreams Ltd with people I know and, in the case of Mike Flower, have worked with before, was too much of a temptation to resist. I am back out of retirement and I am thrilled to be part of a team that is really making waves in the industry.”

Finance director Alex Roberts is a results focused financial and commercial professional with experience in a variety of industries and organisations. He brings with him a wealth of consultancy experience as well an entrepreneurial flair. Alex will lead the team in ensuring that Sweetdreams Ltd builds on its success and continues to grow in a profitable and sustainable manner.

Alex has a ‘hands on’ approach to leading a team to successfully bring about cultural and operational change, driving Sweetdreams Ltd forward as they continue their rapid ascent.
Sweetdreams Ltd, makers of Choc Nibbles, has seen substantial company growth of 32 percent over the past financial year. This has been achieved in part from extended discount sector penetration, new product development, international export, including the company’s first export to Ireland and proactive development of their extensive existing customer base.

Connor Clasper, currently production supervisor will also take on the new role of quality technician in an internal promotion.

Matthew Stephenson, managing director of Sweetdreams Ltd said, “This is a really exciting time for Sweetdreams Ltd. Our new team, along with our fantastic new premises will allow us to enhance existing product offerings, develop new products and reach out to brand new markets and customers.

“We have doubled in size over the past two years and by investing in the best people possible my intention is to cycle that standard of growth every three years moving forward. I have no doubt that we will continue to grow and disrupt the confectionery market in the UK over the coming years and the level of talent that we can attract to the company really speaks for itself.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lauren Regan-Ingram .