Confectionary entrepreneur tastes sweet success in National Business Awards

Goody Good Stuff, the world’s-first naturally delicious sweet manufacturer has wowed the judges at this year’s Nectar Business Small Business Awards, beating hundreds of other UK-based SMEs to scoop the lead prize of Small Business of the Year 2013. 

Confectionary queen, Melissa Burton, impressed the panel of judges - which included BBC 1’s the Apprentice Karren Brady - with her astute business acumen and entrepreneurial vision of how she plans to lead her brand into the worldwide sweet market.  Melissa will now travel to London to attend the Nectar Business Round Table event where she will have the opportunity to ask Karren for advice on her business.

Goody Good Stuff which is based in Heysham, Lancashire, specialises in an all-natural meat free alternative to traditional gummy gelatine based sweets. By using a specialised food technology that has taken over 15 years to develop, Goody Good Stuff have removed the meat gelatine, along with food additives from their gummy sweets while still producing a deliciously smooth and clear consistency sweet. 

Commenting on Goody Good Stuff, Karren Brady says: “Goody Good Stuff really stood out for me because of its originality and UK and global successes to date. I was very impressed by Melissa’s vision and ambition, along with her great brand-extension plans for other product ranges and flavours.”

James Frost, Marketing Director at Nectar, adds: “We are delighted to award Goody Good Stuff for its strong idea in a growing market. The Nectar Business Small Business Awards seek to encourage and support such businesses, helping them achieve their goals in industry.”

Melissa will now join the winners of the award’s five other categories – Start Up of the Year, Contribution to the Community, Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovation of the Year and Tradesperson of the Year – at the Nectar Business Round Table event. The event forms part of the awards ceremony and is hosted by the lead judge, Karren Brady, on 4 September.

Other winners include Steven Greenall, founder of Warwick Music Ltd. The company, which won the Innovation of the Year award, manufactures pBone – the world’s first plastic trombone.

James Frost comments on Warwick Music’s win: “Warwick Music very much deserves this Nectar Business award. The pBone is a fantastic product that makes musical instruments accessible to all.”

Karren Brady also states: “The originality of the pBone really made Warwick Music stand out. Additionally, the company demonstrated good potential for both short-term and long-term growth. I am very interested to meet the people behind such a fun idea.”

The Nectar Business Small Business Awards 2013, which were free to enter, celebrate the achievements of successful small businesses and business people across the UK. As well as the business advice provided by Karren Brady, winners will also receive £2,000 cash and 50,000 Nectar points.

The judging panel was made up of respected industry figures including Karren Brady, Nectar Marketing Director James Frost, Brakes Marketing Director David Hughes and 2012 winner and MD of Luxury For Less, Chris Li.

The winning companies included Goody Good Stuff for Small Business of the Year, The Strings Club for Start-Up of the Year, Giveacar for Contribution to the Community, Labels4Kids Ltd for Entrepreneur of the Year, Warwick Music Ltd for Innovation of the Year and Lanwarne Landscapes for Tradesperson of the Year.

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Contact

Katherine Woods on 020 7343 3108 and clarionnectarbusiness@clarioncomms.co.uk