Haribo grew domestic UK sales last year despite “challenging” conditions for the category, with double-digit growth in early 2022 as impulse sales have rebounded.

Newly filed accounts for the year to 31 December showed the UK arm of the confectionery giant grew sales by 3.6% to £186.2m despite Covid and supply chain disruption.

The pandemic hit impulse sales in the first four months of the year, while the closure of its shops also hit demand.

Demand rebounded “strongly” from May onwards, but issues with labour and raw materials constrained supply.

By the end of the year the group said it had resolved these issues and was enjoying “significant growth as we met unfulfilled demand”.

Pre-exceptional operating profit declined to £21.1m from £22m in 2021 due to remedying supply chain issues, though the 2020 reported operating profit was £17.4m due to £4.6m of exceptional costs relating to restructuring its production and the transfer of some lines to Germany.

Haribo MD Jon Hughes commented: “We continued to restructure our operations as part of our ongoing investment programme to drive productivity, which is so vital given the significant input cost pressure being felt right across the market.

“Our sales momentum has accelerated into 2022, we are outperforming the market in every trade channel with double digit sales growth in the first half.”