Confectioner The Jelly Bean Factory has extended its manufacturing facility in Ireland to include an additional production line.
The addition of the line at the Dublin plant will produce a new range of gourmet Belgian chocolate coated jelly beans. It is expected to nearly double the site's capacity from 55,000sq ft to over 90,000sq ft, the company said today (7 September).
"We are committed to investing, innovating and growing the Jelly Bean Factory brand," said MD Peter Cullen. "Today's official opening of our new production facility is testament to that. We expect a 50% growth in export sales in the next two years and an investment programme of EUR1m (US$1.3m) is planned as we grow our markets across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East."
The facility is the firm's only production plant in Europe. The company also operates offices in the UK, US and the Middle East. The company has annual turnover of EUR11m.
PRESS RELEASE: Irish Prime Minister opens new Manufacturing Facility
-Sweet Taste of Success as The Jelly Bean Factory Continues to Invest in Ireland-
Dublin, Thursday, September 6, 2012. The Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny, T.D., officially opened The Jelly Bean Factory's new confectionery manufacturing facility in Dublin this morning, a state-of-the-art production line, which will create 25 new jobs and nearly double the company's manufacturing footprint from 55,000 sq. ft. to over 90,000 sq. ft. The new production facility will produce a new range of gourmet Belgian chocolate coated jelly beans. The Irish Prime Minister joined invited guests from the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and the Irish Exporters Association, as well as The Jelly Bean Factory employees, to unveil the new manufacturing facility at their IDA Business and Technology Park headquarters in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
Speaking at the launch this morning, the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, said, "Ireland's economy recovery is being led by exporting Irish companies just like The Jelly Bean Factory. With Irish food and drink exports at an all-time high, I am delighted to see indigenous companies continuing to increase their global footprint. The Jelly Bean Factory is one of Ireland's success stories, exporting 97% of its product to over 55 countries worldwide and contributing to Ireland's growing global reputation as a provider of high quality food and drink products. I welcome the new investment in this facility which underlines the confidence of the company in Ireland and of the expertise of its workforce."
The confectionery market in Europe is worth €43.7 billion¹. In 1988, company founders, father and son Peter and Richard Cullen, identified a niche in the European confectionery market for a gourmet jelly bean brand. Today, Aran Candy Ltd, trading as The Jelly Bean Factory, is the biggest producer of high quality gourmet jelly beans in Europe, producing only natural gourmet jelly beans that use natural flavours and added fruit juice in the fruit flavours, contain no artificial colours and are GMO free, gluten free, fat free, Kosher and Halal compliant.
Currently employing 55 full time staff, the company has annual turnover of €11 million, with offices in the UK, US and the Middle East. The company's customers include a 'who's who' of the world's leading stores and retailers, including Debenhams, Co-Op UK, WH Smith, Tesco, Superquinn, Avoca, Fallon & Byrne, , Carrefour, Galeries Lafayette Paris, 7-11, Wal-Mart, Woolworths Australia, Airport Duty Free worldwide, Emirates Airlines and Stena Line, among others.
Speaking at the new production facility this morning, Peter Cullen, joint Managing Director, The Jelly Bean Factory, said, "We are committed to investing, innovating and growing the Jelly Bean Factory brand. Today's official opening of our new production facility is testament to that. We expect a 50% growth in export sales in the next two years and an investment programme of €1million is planned as we grow our markets across Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. 25 additional jobs will be generated to meet this growth, bringing total employment to 80 staff."
Richard Cullen, joint Managing Director, added, "We are the first brand to develop the process to combine the highest quality gourmet jelly beans with the best Belgian Chocolate. It took over two years to research and develop our new gourmet Belgian chocolate coated Jelly Bean. It takes 10 days to produce this new bean, ensuring a perfect polish, smooth texture and rich taste experience from the very centre of our beans right through the smooth chocolate coating. We are very excited about this new member of our jelly bean family, which is breaking boundaries in flavours, quality and creativity! It will be launched in the Irish and international markets in time for Christmas. We currently produce more than 12 million jelly beans a day and with this new product, we hope to increase that number by a few million more beans a day!"
