Through its wholly-owned subsidiary NIC Enterprises, Orkla Food Ingredients has acquired UK-based manufacturer of speciality fudge and toffee, Confection by Design.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Confection by Design provides fudge and toffee to ice cream manufacturers, confectioners and bakeries.

Orkla’s UK subsidiary Orchard Valley Foods distributes around two-thirds of its portfolio.

Confection by Design makes approximately 80% of its sales in the UK.

Orkla Food Ingredients supplies bakery and ice cream ingredients to the Nordic region and some countries in Europe.

In the UK, Orkla Food Ingredients operates in the food industry through its subsidiaries NIC UK, Orchard Valley Foods and County Confectionery.

NIC Group CEO Tor Osmundsen said: “The purchase of Confection by Design is strategically right and will complement Orkla Food Ingredients’ position as a supplier of inclusions and accessories to the bakery, chocolate and ice cream market.”

Set up in 1988, Confection by Design is a privately owned business with 35 employees. Its headquarters and production facilities are located in Harrogate, UK.

It had a turnover of $7.2m in the financial year ending 30 June.

The company will be consolidated into Orkla’s financial statements from 1 July.

In June, Orkla, through its partly owned subsidiary Werners Gourmetservice, acquired distributor of Asian ingredients in Sweden, Bo Risberg import (Risberg), for an undisclosed amount.

Risberg supplies Asian spices, sauces, spice mixes and other flavourings. Around 50% of its sales revenue comes from the Risberg brand.

Set up in 1976, Risberg Risberg had a turnover of SEK83m in 2018.