Innovative Bites, the UK’s leading American confectionery wholesaler, has announced its move into new, purpose-built premises in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.
The 103,000 sq ft site boasts 10 loading bays, and is 2.5 times larger than its previous premises in Southall. The move by Innovative Bites comes on the back of an ambitious expansion plan, which included the acquisition of one of the UK’s oldest sweet businesses, Bonds of London, in April 2016.
The business has seen continued growth in demand for its confectionery products, including iconic American sweet treat Twinkies, Mega Marshmallows and WarHeads. This has resulted in increased listings across multiples and independents, which made the move necessary.
The new location has the added advantage of bringing the two strands of the business, Innovative Bites and Bonds of London, closer together geographically. The larger site will also improve economies of scale as the business strives to streamline itself.
It is expected that the combined 2016 turnover of Bonds of London and Innovative Bites will exceed £50m. A new recruitment drive will be the next phase in the business development, with positions opening up in warehouse roles, as well as in admin and sales.
Vishal Madhu, a director at Innovative Bites, said: “Moving into our new Dunstable premises is a strategic move that has been on the cards for some time. We have seen an increasing demand for American confectionery here in the UK, which has meant we simply outgrew our previous site.
“The move will allow us to streamline our operation and operate more efficiently in a larger purpose-built warehouse. The additional space and facilities will also allow us to improve our offering to our customers, not only of American lines, but also British lines from Bonds of London.”
