TWO Brighton confectioners have beaten hundreds of hopefuls competing for a life-changing contract to stock their products in Aldi stores nationwide.
Partners and small business owners, Lesley Jeavons and Corin Jeavons, both 52, will be featured on the popular Channel 4 programme, Aldi’s Next Big Thing, today (April 23) at 8pm with their sustainable vegan toffee.
The six-part series sees food and drink suppliers compete to be listed in more than 1,000 Aldi stores.
The duo are behind Jeavons Toffee, vegan versions of traditional toffee-based confectionery.
The toffee is created with 100 per cent sustainably sourced vegan ingredients include an alternative to milk chocolate to ensure farmers and land workers get a fair share of the profits.
Presented by Anita Rani of Countryfile and BBC Radio 4 and Chris Bavin, of BBC 1’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less, the series will see suppliers compete in a range of categories including dinners and baked goods, as well as exciting new category additions: party, world, and confectionery.
Products are presented to Julie Ashfield, managing director of Buying at Aldi UK, who judges on factors such as price, packaging, product demand, and the ability to scale up, before shortlisting contestants down to just two.
The finalists are then given four weeks to address any feedback, with a follow-up home visit from Anita or Chris who will report back their findings to Julie.
The three then taste test the improved products, before Ms Ashfield decides the winner which will appear as a Special buy in more than 1,000 stores.
She said: “Offering shoppers an affordable indulgence is a big focus for Aldi. We’re looking for fun flavours and twists on classics, so innovation is key.”
Despite others entering the arena of vegan confectionery since the launch of Jeavons Toffee, the proud partners claim to be the only producers of chewy vegan toffee that’s comparable with traditional dairy toffee.
Corin said: “As a teenager in the 80s, I loved to create sweets at home with my mum’s recipes.
“Among my favourite sweets were Toffos and Rolos because of the soft, chewy texture. In turn, I wanted to create vegan versions of these products and so, the quest for the perfect recipe began.
”While nibbling on my latest batch in the summer of 2015, Lesley smiled at me and said: ‘you should sell these, people will love them’ and the seed was planted.
“At the time I was in need of a big career change and toffee was going to be it.
”After hundreds of experimental batches and the studying of confectionery sugar science, I finally had the ingredients and method perfected, my toffee was every bit as good as my childhood memories.”
The competition is part of Aldi’s commitment to support British suppliers.
Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores.
