FDBusiness.com

Blackpool-based Tangerine Confectionery, the largest British manufacturer of sugar confectionery and branded popcorn in the UK, has gained a top 20 place in the latest Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100, building on its excellent position of 47th last year. The league table ranks Britain’s 100 private equity-backed companies with the fastest-growing profits (EBITDA) over the last two years of available accounts.

Since its formation in 2005, Tangerine Confectionery has quadrupled in size through both organic growth and acquisition. Current turnover is over £150 million and Tangerine Confectionery employs over 1,300 people.

The company now has eight production facilities and a distribution depot and owns brands such as Butterkist popcorn, Barratt Sherbet Fountain, Henry Goode’s soft eating liquorice and Princess marshmallows. In addition, Tangerine manufactures own brand products for all of the UK’s leading high street food retailers. Within five years, it aims to be the largest independent manufacturer of confectionery in Europe.

Commenting on moving up the Buyout Track 100, Steven Joseph, chairman of Tangerine Confectionery, says: “I believe Tangerine has been successful because it has an unrivalled range of sugar confectionery products, encompassing some of the most iconic brands in confectionery including Barratt Sherbet Fountain and Barratt Dip Dabs. Tangerine also makes the nation’s favourite popcorn, Butterkist, which now has over 60 percent market share.”

He adds: “We are focused on offering high quality and value for money, supplying everyone from the UK’s leading high street food retailers to corner shops. We also have an active NPD programme, as evidenced by launches such as Henry Goode’s soft eating liquorice, which has become the number one brand just 18 months after its launch, and the recent launch of Butterkist milk chocolate coated toffee popcorn.”