Valeo confectionery
A British confectionery manufacturer formerly known as Tangerine Confectionery.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Valeo Confectionery is a British confectionery manufacturer headquartered in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The business is the successor to Tangerine Confectionery, which itself was created through the consolidation of several established British sweet manufacturers and later became part of Valeo Foods Group. Its product activity has centered on sugar confectionery, including traditional boiled sweets, jellies, mints, lollipops, liquorice, gums and other packaged treats supplied under both branded and retailer own-label names. The company’s corporate history is rooted in the United Kingdom operations of Toms International of Denmark. Between 1992 and 2001, that business acquired the Taveners, Daintee and Parrs confectionery businesses. In January 2006, following a management-led purchase from Toms International, Toms Confectionery changed its name to Tangerine Confectionery and adopted new branding. The renamed company initially retained a strong own-label manufacturing role, particularly for English retailers, while also developing a broader portfolio of consumer-facing confectionery brands. Tangerine expanded rapidly through acquisitions. In 2006 it acquired the confectionery arm of Burton’s Foods, strengthening its position in the British sweets market and increasing reported turnover to approximately £60 million. In January 2008 it acquired Monkhill Confectionery from Cadbury for a reported £58 million. That transaction added factories and distribution assets in Yorkshire and brought a substantial set of established product lines into the portfolio, including Barratt, Sharps of York, Jameson’s, Trebor Bassett Mints, Butterkist and Pascall products. The acquisition made Tangerine one of the largest independent confectionery companies in the United Kingdom and a significant European confectionery manufacturer. The business continued to operate a geographically distributed manufacturing network, with sites associated with products and capabilities in Blackburn, Blackpool, Cleckheaton, Gateshead, Heanor, Norwich, Pontefract, Snetterton, Wallingford and York at the time described in the reference material. Its operations have included branded production, contract manufacturing and own-label supply. The company also sought certification for selected products marketed to Muslim consumers, receiving a Halal Food Authority seal of approval for 150 products in 2009 before later losing that listing in 2013. Tangerine’s history also includes labor, safety and restructuring events. A fatal workplace accident at its Poole factory led to health-and-safety convictions and substantial fines in 2010. The Poole factory was subsequently scheduled for closure in 2013. Other site changes included the closure announcement for the Clifton Road factory in Blackpool in 2014, while the Vicarage Lane site was retained at that time. These changes reflected the cost and efficiency pressures affecting a multi-site confectionery manufacturer. Valeo Foods announced the completion of its acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery in August 2018. In December 2019, the operating company’s name changed to Valeo Confectionery, aligning it with the wider Valeo Foods identity while preserving the manufacturing and brand portfolio associated with Tangerine. More recent restructuring has included the announced closure of the Liverpool factory, which subsequently ceased operations in March 2025, and an October 2025 announcement concerning plans to close the Pontefract site. As a result, the company’s current footprint and the future status of individual facilities should be checked against the latest corporate disclosures. The business remains best understood as Valeo Foods’ British confectionery manufacturing operation and as the corporate successor to Tangerine Confectionery.
History
Valeo Confectionery developed from the United Kingdom confectionery operations associated with Toms International of Denmark. Toms’ British arm assembled a portfolio of traditional confectionery businesses through the acquisitions of Taveners, Daintee and Parrs between 1992 and 2001. In January 2006, after a new management team purchased the business from Toms International, Toms Confectionery was renamed Tangerine Confectionery. The renamed company combined own-label manufacturing with a growing branded portfolio. It acquired the confectionery activities of Burton’s Foods in 2006, becoming a larger independent supplier and reportedly raising turnover to about £60 million. In 2008 Tangerine bought Monkhill Confectionery from Cadbury in a reported £58 million transaction. Monkhill contributed Yorkshire factories, a distribution centre and several well-known confectionery lines, including Barratt, Sharps of York, Jameson’s, Trebor Bassett Mints, Butterkist and Pascall. The deal established Tangerine as one of the United Kingdom’s largest independent sweet makers. Operational and employment issues accompanied this expansion. Workers at the York factory were reassured in 2008 that closure was not planned, while employees at the Blackpool operation voted for industrial action after rejecting a pay offer. In 2009 the company was listed in the Sunday Times and PwC Profit Track 100 ranking of fast-growing private companies. It also obtained Halal Food Authority approval for 150 products across selected Barratt, MOJO, Princess and Taveners Proper Sweets ranges. That approval was later removed from the authority’s listing in 2013. A serious safety case arose after an employee died at the Poole factory. In 2010 the company was found guilty of two health-and-safety breaches and received fines of £300,000 for each count plus costs. The Poole site was later scheduled for closure in 2013. Tangerine acquired Smith Kendon in 2012, adding York Fruits jelly sweets. In 2014 it announced the closure of its Clifton Road factory in Blackpool while stating that the Vicarage Lane site would remain open. Valeo Foods completed its acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery in August 2018. The company was renamed Valeo Confectionery in December 2019. Under Valeo ownership, the business continued to represent the group’s British confectionery manufacturing interests, with production associated with a broad network of sites. Subsequent restructuring included the announced Liverpool factory closure, completed in March 2025, and plans announced in October 2025 to close the Pontefract site. The business’s exact current manufacturing footprint requires confirmation from up-to-date company sources.
- 2025
Liverpool factory closure completed
[1]The Liverpool facility announced for closure in 2024 subsequently shut in March 2025.
- 2019
Corporate name changed to Valeo Confectionery
[1]The operating company adopted the Valeo Confectionery name.
- 2018
Acquired by Valeo Foods
[1]Valeo Foods completed its acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery.
- 2012
Smith Kendon acquired
[1]Tangerine added the York Fruits jelly sweets business to its portfolio.
- 2010
Health-and-safety convictions following Poole fatality
[1]The company was convicted on two health-and-safety counts after an employee death at the Poole factory.
- 2009
Halal approval obtained for selected products
[1]The Halal Food Authority approved 150 products in selected Barratt, MOJO, Princess and Taveners Proper Sweets ranges.
- 2008
Monkhill Confectionery acquired from Cadbury
[1]The transaction added sites in Cleckheaton, Pontefract and York, a distribution centre, and multiple established confectionery lines.
- 2006
Toms Confectionery becomes Tangerine Confectionery
[1]A new management team acquired the business from Toms International and changed its name and branding.
- 2006
Burton’s Foods confectionery arm acquired
[1]Tangerine expanded its manufacturing base and product portfolio through the purchase of Burton’s confectionery activities.
- 2001
Acquisition sequence involving Taveners, Daintee and Parrs completed
[1]By this year, the ten-year period of acquisitions that assembled these traditional confectionery businesses had concluded.
Products and positioning
A large British confectionery manufacturer combining heritage sweet brands with retailer own-label and contract manufacturing capabilities.
Sugar confectionery
Barratt
A heritage confectionery brand brought into the Tangerine portfolio through the Monkhill acquisition. Its range is associated with packaged sweets and traditional British sugar confectionery.
Boiled sweets and confectionery
MOJO
A confectionery range included among the products for which Tangerine obtained Halal Food Authority approval in 2009. The brand forms part of the heritage-oriented sweets portfolio associated with the former Tangerine business.
Traditional sugar confectionery
Taveners Proper Sweets
A traditional sweets range connected to Taveners, one of the businesses assembled into the British Toms operation before Tangerine was formed. The range was among the products covered by the 2009 Halal approval.
Jelly sweets
York Fruits
A jelly-sweets business acquired through Tangerine’s 2012 purchase of Smith Kendon. The acquisition extended the company’s presence in fruit-flavoured and jelly-style confectionery.
Mints
Trebor Bassett Mints
A mint line included in the Monkhill Confectionery portfolio acquired from Cadbury in 2008. It contributed a recognizable mint segment to Tangerine’s broader sugar-confectionery offering.
Popcorn and confectionery
Butterkist
A product line transferred to Tangerine as part of the Monkhill acquisition. The reference material identifies it among the brands and lines acquired from Cadbury.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2025
Pontefract site closure planStrategyBackground
The company continued reviewing its manufacturing footprint under Valeo Foods ownership.
Action taken
Plans were announced to shut the Pontefract site.
Aftermath
The final timing and operational consequences require confirmation from current company or regulatory sources.
2024
Liverpool factory closure decisionStrategyBackground
Valeo Foods announced a restructuring affecting its British manufacturing network.
Action taken
The group announced the closure of the Liverpool factory, which subsequently ceased operations in March 2025.
Aftermath
The Liverpool site was removed from the operating network.
2018
Acquisition by Valeo FoodsM&ABackground
Tangerine had grown into a large independent confectionery manufacturer through its acquisition-led expansion.
Action taken
Valeo Foods completed the acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery.
Aftermath
The company became part of Valeo Foods and was renamed Valeo Confectionery in 2019.
2014
Blackpool manufacturing rationalisationStrategyBackground
The company reviewed its manufacturing footprint amid continuing operational and cost pressures.
Action taken
Tangerine announced the closure of its Clifton Road factory in Blackpool while stating that its Vicarage Lane site would remain open.
Aftermath
Production capacity in Blackpool was consolidated across fewer sites.
2008
Monkhill Confectionery acquisitionM&ABackground
Tangerine sought to increase its scale and strengthen its branded confectionery portfolio.
Action taken
The company purchased Monkhill Confectionery from Cadbury, including manufacturing sites, a distribution centre and multiple confectionery lines.
Aftermath
The deal materially expanded Tangerine’s Yorkshire manufacturing presence and brand portfolio.
Reported transaction value. £58 million (January 2008)
2006
Rebrand from Toms Confectionery to Tangerine ConfectioneryStrategyBackground
A new management team acquired the British confectionery business from Toms International of Denmark.
Action taken
The company changed its name, branding and corporate identity to Tangerine Confectionery.
Aftermath
The renamed business pursued expansion through acquisitions and became a major independent confectionery manufacturer in the United Kingdom.
Recent events
- 2025
Plans announced for Pontefract site closure[1]
Other
The company announced plans to shut the Pontefract site, a significant location in the historical Tangerine and Valeo Confectionery manufacturing network.
- 2024
Valeo Foods announces Liverpool factory closure[1]
Other
Valeo Foods announced plans to close its Liverpool manufacturing site; the facility subsequently ceased operations in March 2025.
- 2019
Tangerine Confectionery renamed Valeo Confectionery[1]
Leadership change
The operating company changed its name to Valeo Confectionery as part of its alignment with Valeo Foods.
- 2018
Valeo Foods completes acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery[1]
M&A
Valeo Foods announced completion of its acquisition of Tangerine Confectionery, bringing the British confectionery business into the Valeo Foods group.
- 2012
Tangerine acquires Smith Kendon[1]
M&A · Product generation
The acquisition brought the York Fruits jelly sweets manufacturing business into Tangerine’s portfolio.
- 2008
Tangerine buys Monkhill Confectionery from Cadbury[1]
M&A
The purchase added Yorkshire production facilities, a distribution centre and a portfolio including Barratt, Sharps of York, Jameson’s, Trebor Bassett Mints, Butterkist and Pascall lines.
- 2006
Toms Confectionery renamed Tangerine Confectionery[1]
Other
Following its purchase by a new management team from Toms International, Toms Confectionery changed its name and branding to Tangerine Confectionery.
- 2006
Tangerine acquires Burton’s Foods confectionery arm[1]
M&A
The acquisition expanded Tangerine’s manufacturing and product portfolio and reportedly increased company turnover to about £60 million.
Sources3 sources
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