Gordon Birtwistle MP opened Sweet Dreams’ new £3m extension on Friday September 20th, and said he was "delighted" with how Burnley was being put on the nation’s map thanks to the endeavours of successful companies like Sweet Dreams.
Sweet Dreams, established by Riaz Ahmed 25 years ago, employs around 200 people in the Burnley area, and the new extension represents a significant milestone in the company’s development. Riaz thanked visitors for their support and said how pleased he was to see the company flourish – and that he planned for Sweet Dreams to be offering employment to local people, and good quality products and service to customers, for another 25 years.
"I am particularly pleased that the new building has secured Sweet Dreams’ future in Burnley, with all that means for our local, loyal workforce"
The new 56,000 sqft building, which adjoins the original Primrose Mill, provides Sweet Dreams with a new 48,600 sqft warehouse, plus a purpose-designed showroom. Storage capacity at the premises has increased from 800 to 2200 pallets, which has an impact on how much product can be stored, and therefore how much more streamlined and efficient the operation can be. Delivery times, already one of the industry’s best at 10 working days, are to be reduced in the near future as a direct result of the new facility.
Also present at the opening ceremony was: Burnley Council’s chief executive, Steve Rumbelow, together with Brian Reece from Lloyds Bank and other representatives from the financial and business community; Tim Webber, MD of Barnfield Construction, which built the new facility; personnel from Bensons for Beds, one of Sweet Dreams’ largest accounts; editors from the trade press; and Jessica Alexander, executive director, and Kay Gallagher, from the NBF.
The company recently won a Burnley Business of the Year Award and is shortlisted for three awards with Entrepreneur Magazine.
MD, owner and founder Riaz Ahmed says: "While increased efficiency and capacity were obviously major goals, I am particularly pleased that the new building has secured Sweet Dreams’ future in Burnley, with all that means for our local, loyal workforce. Ninety percent of Sweet Dreams' workers live within five miles of the site, and 63% have been with the company for at least five years –10% for 15 years or more."
