UK’s largest sweets wholesaler eyes new Northern Ireland base
The UK’s largest sweets and confectionery wholesaler is eyeing its first major base here in Northern Ireland.
Hancocks specialises in selling ‘bulk pick and mix’ to retailers here, alongside US-branded sweets and a range of other confectionery.
While it’s been selling its products here in Northern Ireland for many years, it’s now looking at developing a new base of operations here.
There must have been a spark when Cable and Accessories directors Kieran McAllister and Basil Kyle first met Ollie Bellew.
His family company, Bellew Electrical in Dundalk, Co Louth, this week announced its acquisition of their Londonderry-headquartered company. The amount paid has not been disclosed, but it’s understood to be an eight-figure sum.
Kieran, who has worked for the business for 35 years, says: “We’ve had multiple approaches over the years from bigger corporations but the Bellew thing felt right for us.
The UK Budget announced on Wednesday marks a significant departure for UK economic policy on a number of fronts.
The tax increases have garnered the most immediate attention, but the increase in public spending was sizeable and necessary.
While the figures suggest one of the largest increases in spending since the turn of the century, such figures have to be taken in context.
Business advisory firm Deloitte has announced a new partnership with Catalyst as they open a hub for entrepreneurs in Belfast city centre.
The new Catalyst Bedford Street will be based on the ground floor of Ewart’s Warehouse, part of Deloitte’s new headquarters.
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It’s hoped it will draw start-ups and growing companies to set up in the historic Linen Quarter.
Freight carrier Stena Line is set to axe up to 80 of its staff after an internal review found the company’s current set-up was “too big and expensive” in relation to its revenue.
CEO Paul Grant announced the redundancies in an email to all staff on Monday, in which it said the business was launching a programme to “future proof the company”.
It follows a review carried out by Stena Line focused on how to secure its core business and use its resources effectively.
Finally, Country music legend Dolly Parton has sent her thanks to a housebuilding company in Northern Ireland for its support of her Imagination Library charity.
In partnership with the Imagination Library, Hagan Homes has delivered 50,000 books to children across Belfast in the last four years.
In a video message, Dolly said: “You’ve brought so much joy to so many families and children and I just simply want to say, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me inspire children to love reading.”
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