FDBusiness.com

Following an incredible debut year, Smith & Sinclair has been awarded with Most Innovative Confectionery at The International Food & Drink Event (IFE). The independent London confectioner was recognised for its revolutionary alcoholic pastilles, triumphing over 340 entries. The company was also shortlisted for the Top 100 Best New Products, having been selected from over 3,000 products exhibited at the event. The accolades continue to come as co-founder Melanie Goldsmith is selected as one of 15 young entrepreneurs to watch by the UK’s leading new business resource Startups.co.uk. Launched in January last year Smith & Sinclair has taken the confectionery industry by storm, being stocked at leading retailers Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. It has also secured relationships with the likes of Google and London Cocktail Week.

The world’s first and only alcoholic cocktail confectionery was created by co-founder Emile Bernard. Each pastille retains 6-8% ABV, meaning that a box of six equates to 2.6 units of alcohol, a first for a solid confectionery product. Available in six core flavours, made using high quality spirits, fresh fruit and real spices, each cocktail recipe has been deconstructed and reconfigured through a complex cooking process created and patented by Smith & Sinclair. The method ensures that minimal alcohol is burnt off and the resulting product delivers layer upon layer of flavour with a subtle alcoholic kick.

Co-founder Melanie Goldsmith says: “We’re honoured to have walked away with Most Innovative Confectionery at IFE. We really wanted to push the boundaries and do something no-one else had done before so to be recognised for our hard work is incredibly gratifying. To then be selected for Startups Top 15 Young Entrepreneurs is just the icing on the cake for what has been an amazing first year for S&S and we have plenty more exciting developments in the pipeline.”