(an advertising supplement) Ryne Quality Confectionery Ltd Lancaster Way Business Park Ely, Cambs CB6 3NP Tel: 01353 660580 Fax: 01353 660581 E-mail: psheehan@unimerchants.co.uk Key personnel Managing Director Peter Sheehan General Sales Manager Paul Southam Director of Sales Graham Collins National Sales Manager Garry Weeks Trade Sector Manager Sue Davitt National Account Manager Kevin Moore Sales Support Manager Jan Bussey Key brands Duc d'O Hershey Reigelein Pierrot Gourmand Neideregger Truffling with our affections "I look forward to the day when confectionery fixtures reflect the consumer demand for choice already found in wine and patisserie," reflects Peter Sheehan, md of Ryne Quality Confectionery, brand owners for the continental chocolate gifting range, Duc d'O. He would like to see retailers broadening the category for quality European confectionery. "Helpfully, the major multiples are beginning to recognise the demand," he says. But there is still some way to go, and Ryne is chipping away at the chocolate edifice by offering distribution and sales through the high street, national and regional multiples, multiple CTNs, wholesale and C&C, travel and leisure outlets, as well as through motorway service stations and selected forecourt outlets. Its penetration is impressive and, through its sister companies, it can offer additional specialisation. Trustin Unimerchants, for example, gives Ryne access to the top four grocers as branded or own label, while The Foodfinders places it in department stores and food halls, garden centres, mail order, hampers, delicatessen and fine food outlets. Brand partnership is crucial to Ryne, which has enjoyed a three-fold increase in turnover in the past five years, largely built on the back of luxury truffles from Belgium, German, Holland, Ireland and even Finland. "The growth has been organic as well as through the gain of several new principals ­ leaders in their own countries ­ who have appointed Ryne, due to our sole concentration in the chocolate and sugar sectors within the £5.7billion UK confectionery market," says Sheehan. "This growth has also been aided by the UK's increasing acceptance of our flagship Duc d'O as an all pocket quality Belgian house." {{Z SUPPLEMENTS }}