Old fashioned sweet shops are now springing up here there and everywhere throughout Britain. It's possible to get all the old classics, rhubarb and custard, cherry lips, sweet tobacco, toffee crumble and much more. In many ways there is a renaissance in this type of confectionery which is seen as traditional and evoking childhood memories. The reason you are perhaps not seeing so many in London is the high rents and business rates payable for high street shops, although sweet shops have opened in some central London locations where tourism is more prevalent. We had a supplier who opened a great sweet shop at Greenwich Market but rising rents put paid to his ambitions after a few years. He made his own fudge in Cornwall for their London shop. Mr Sims is a sweet shop franchise currently expanding through Britain to include the suburbs of London but you have to sell a lot of sweets to make these businesses work and the chances aof doing this will be increased in niche or tourist areas. The public are getting wise to the fact that M&S, Boots, BHS, Tescos and many others are now packaging traditional sweets for their shelves and retailing at a price the independent retailer can't compete against. There are some great specialist sweet shops on the internet where the buyer can get a personalised bespoke service. James www.toffeecrumble.com
Posted: 2010-03-01 17:39:23
