GMI Construction has started work on a new 158,000 sq ft facility for British confectionery manufacturer Swizzels Matlow at MA6NITUDE in Middlewich, Cheshire – the first phase of a facility that could grow to 458,000 sq ft.

The developer of the Middlewich scheme is Magnitude Land LLP, a joint venture between Tritax Symmetry – the development arm of Tritax Big Box REIT – and NPL. Last summer, the partners secured outline consent to add a further 1m sq ft of additional warehousing at the site, building on land south of Cledford Lane, west of the proposed Middlewich Eastern bypass.

Swizzels is best known for its popular Love Hearts, Drumsticks and Parma Violets sweets. The firm’s new building in Middlewich has been designed by AEW. The construction of the new facility is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

To the northern area of the site at MA6NITUDE, Tritax Symmetry and GMI are delivering two new-build facilities which are being speculatively built and will comprise 149,000 sq ft and 41,000 sq ft. available in June 2022.

David Nuttall, development director at Tritax Symmetry, said: “MA6NITUDE continues to evolve and with the two new speculative buildings available in the summer, we are well placed to welcome new high-quality occupiers to the area.

“Swizzels’ new manufacturing building will be an exceptional facility for their business and also opens up a further plot to enable us to deliver a 230,000 sq ft building by early 2023.”

Marc Banks, divisional marketing director at GMI, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been instructed to construct this important new facility for famous UK confectionery manufacturer Swizzels. GMI enjoys a strong and expanding working relationship with Tritax Symmetry and we look forward to delivering another high-quality outcome for them.”

Swizzels Matlow is considered one of the oldest confectionery companies in the world. The company was first formed as Matlow Bros, a manufacturer of jelly sweets in London, by Alfred and Maurice Matlow in 1928. Swizzels was established five years later in 1933 and was renamed to Swizzels Matlow in 1975. The company is based in New Mills, Derbyshire where the factory employs upward of 600 workers.

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