Member Article

Healthy outlook as latest Rowntree confectionery entrepreneur expands at Thorp Arch Estate

Building work has completed on a major new commercial unit for a confectionery business founded by the great grandson of one of the UK’s most famous entrepreneurs and social reformers.

Confectionery wholesaler Bon Bon’s, led by Yorkshire businessman, Mark Rowntree, a descendant of confectionery pioneer, Joseph Rowntree, has expanded by taking a further 15,000 sq ft unit at Thorp Arch Estate, near Wetherby.

The Unit, 6 Ash Way, is part of Ash Way III, an extension of the existing Ash Way development and is North Yorkshire’s (Leeds) largest speculative, multi-occupancy commercial development currently under construction. The speculative development comprises five industrial units and will provide 48,000 sq ft.

The units are being fitted out to a high specification, including seven-metre-eave warehouses, up-and-over loading doors, air conditioned offices, LED lighting throughout, concrete loading yards and fibre connections for superfast broadband. Unit 6 has achieved an A grade Energy Performance Certificate.

Bon Bon’s, which was founded in 2007 and moved into a 13,300 sq ft unit on the Thorp Arch Estate in 2014, has expanded to also occupy 6 Ash Way as part of an operational re-organisation following its diversification into healthy snacking with the launch of The Real Good Food Co, selling a range of flavoured and speciality nuts and seeds.

The Real Good Food Co sells a range of products, including Wasabi Green Beans and Chili Peanuts, along with branded merchandising, to the company’s retail outlets throughout the UK.

Mark Rowntree says: “Our confectionary sales are still going extremely well but we launched the Real Good Food Co because there is clearly a growing market for snacking on nuts and seeds and we want to offer customers a wider choice.

“We are probably the UK’s largest hand-packing confectionery business and the additional space provided by 6 Ash Way will allow us to re-organise our operation to provide more packing capacity in our existing unit and to use 6 Ash Way entirely as a bulk holding and dispatch warehouse.

“Wharfedale Property Management manages the estate and has been very supportive in helping us to expand and has guided us through the entire process. Thorp Arch Estate is a great business location, close to the motorway network, and we are confident of continuing our expansion, which is seeing double digit sales growth.”

Bon Bon’s luxury confectionery, from Belgian chocolates to boiled sweets, gourmet mallows and specialist liquorices, is sourced nationwide and supplied to hundreds of high-quality independent retailers including farm shops, delicatessens, department stores and tourist attractions.

The business has 85 staff and supplies household name venues including The British Museum, Chatsworth House, The Tower of London, The Shard, London, and English Heritage sites, including Stonehenge.

The remaining four units, which are on target for completion next month (February 2019), are available to lease through Wharfedale Property Management, and comprise two units of 6,000 sq ft, one of 9,000 sq ft and one of 12,000 sq ft.

Wharfedale Property Management director, Tim Munns, says: “Bon Bon’s commitment to expand into Ash Way III gave estate owner, Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust, confidence to invest in this high-quality speculative scheme and we are delighted that they have now moved in. There is already a great deal of interest in the remaining units.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Clarke Communications .