14 June –Scottish manufacturer Tilly Confectionery has submitted plans to Clackmannanshire Council for a proposed new factory due to a significant increase in the demand for its traditional, handmade Scottish confectionery products in recent years.

In the past few months, Tilly Confectionery has won contracts to supply all 137 RS McColl stores in Scotland in addition to another 100 Tesco stores in the north of England and the company has been listed with all Historic Scotland sites, including Stirling and Edinburgh castle. Just last month, the company announced that it had secured a listing for the Co-op. A move to larger premises is necessary to enable the company to increase its production to meet the future demands for its confectionery.

If planning for the new site in Alva is approved, construction on the new factory will commence in October 2010 with plans to open the factory in Spring 2011. The 16,000ft² factory has the potential for the company to produce around five million of its high quality tablet, fudge and macaroon bars each year and will boost the local economy by providing around 23 jobs in the factory over three years and also through the construction of the new premises.

Speaking about the proposed build; Peter Paterson founder and Managing Director of Tilly confectionery, comments, “The submission of this planning application represents a significant milestone in the growth and progress we have made as a small Scottish manufacturer and illustrates just how big the demand is currently for traditional, Scottish produce.”

The company is hopeful that it will receive part funding for the £1.1 million new build through the Scottish Government’s Regional Selective Assistance programme, which aims to encourage investment and job creation for businesses in designated areas of Scotland.