East Yorkshire confectionery business goes for growth following export sales success

Creme d’Or, the East Yorkshire confectionery distributor, has reported business growth after securing overseas trade in both the Middle East and the Far East.

Based in Tickton, near Beverley, the company has seen exporting sales rise by 9% in 2017 after it began trading with Dubai and Shanghai over the past two years.

Creme d’Or has worked with advisers dedicated to Yorkshire and the Humber businesses at the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to expand in the East.

The company hired a permanent staff member dedicated to exporting in 2015, and is now recruiting two additional staff to manage increased overseas demand.

Creme d’Or was established in 1991 to specialise in the import and distribution of continental confectionery and fine food. The business is now one of the largest suppliers of wholesale premium chocolate to a host of major independent retailers around the world.

Laura Gunderson, head of export at Creme d’Or, said: “Creme d’Or is now totally committed to exporting - and our hard work over the past two years is consistently resulting in some major new order wins.

“One of the first things I did when I joined the company was work with government trade advisers to create an exporting plan that identified the most appropriate markets for us.

“This can be a timely and sometimes challenging process that requires a lot of due diligence so it was crucial to have informed and knowledgeable trade advisers on hand to help us through this process and overcome any hurdles.

“With this support, we realised that the European market was already highly competitive, which led us to identify opportunities instead in the Middle East.”

Creme d’Or was invited to a Northern Powerhouse trade mission to Dubai to attend Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food event which showcases suppliers to 95,000 visitors. Defra and DIT will be supporting UK businesses at Gulfood in February this year, as part of the Food is GREAT campaign.

With further government support, the company exhibited at food and hospitality trade show HOFEX in Hong Kong, while also travelling to Singapore to meet with prospective clients. Laura returned from this trip with a “significant order” from a large supermarket chain.

Mark Robson, regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at the Department for International Trade, commented: “Concerns about the cost of exporting and bureaucracy often prevent highly successful companies based here in Yorkshire from exporting.

“But we want to help – we have 29 International Trade Advisers who provide specialist support and guidance to ensure that companies can achieve their potential.

“We’re aware of hundreds of different exporting opportunities that could be right for businesses across this region.

“As we look to the year ahead, now could be the ideal time for companies thinking about exporting for the first time to discover the benefits for themselves.”