Bakery ingredients supplier Confection by Design has been bought by Orkla Food Ingredients.

Confection by Design is based in Harrogate and supplies fudge, toffee and honeycomb to bakeries and confectioners. Established in 1988, it has 35 employees and reported a turnover of £5.7m in the financial year ending 30 June 2019.

The business will become part of Orkla’s UK subsidiary The Orchard Valley Foods Group.

Orkla has been growing its presence in the UK after acquiring Orchard Valley in 2017, with Orchard Valley recently acquiring Cornwall-based caramel supplier County Confectionery.

Around two-thirds of Confection by Design’s portfolio is distributed by Orchard Valley.

“Orchard Valley Foods has a longstanding relationship with Confection by Design,” said Orchard Valley business development director Mike Forrester. “We have been the largest customer of their products, acting as an exclusive distributor to selected markets.

“This acquisition, along with the acquisition of County Confectionery, further anchors our position as a global supplier of confectionery-based inclusions and decorations. Both companies will be incorporated into the group, but it is still very much ‘business as usual’ for them and their customers.”

Tor Osmundsen, CEO of Orkla subsidiary NIC Group, said the purchase of Confection by Design would complement Orkla Food Ingredients’ role as a supplier of inclusions and accessories to the bakery, chocolate and ice cream market.

Orkla also owns bakery ingredients supplier Sonneveld.