What’s it like to be a real legacy business? One with a heritage going back over 100 years? How do you navigate new methods, classic products and changing tastes? This is a masterclass in knowing who you are, who your customers are and what you’re about.

Andy Valentine is a food industry veteran who now feels like the proverbial "kid in the sweet shop". He’s responsible for developing direct, B2B and private-label channels for a business that combines traditional handcrafted techniques with state-of-the-art facilities.

Stockley's was founded in 1918 in Accrington, Lancashire and has managed to navigate tastes, trends, the second world war, the demise of Woolworths and, more recently, a number of different owners. But how far and fast should you go to open up new channels in a £6bn market dominated by multinationals?

Listen to this episode to discover:

The journey from humble premises to 21st century manufacturer
The channels and formats bringing new customers to Stockley's
Where and what the biggest opportunities are, and how to prioritise
Why being a relative minnow might just be their greatest advantage
What’s the most divisive product in confectionery

Find out more and buy online: https://stockleys-sweets.co.uk

Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-valentine-1752671/

-- Thanks for listening.

Curious Business is here to bring you insights, experiences and ideas to help you think differently about your business and marketing. My name is Stephen Morris and I help start-ups and scale-ups gain clarity, take action and ignite momentum in their marketing and pipeline. Like to know more? Book a discovery call: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/discovery/ Or sign-up to 'The Prompt' my monthly newsletter: https://www.curiousbusiness.co.uk/signup/ If you'd like to talk about how podcasts can build reach, enhance authority and fuel your pipeline, visit: www.curiousbusiness.co.uk.

Life Is Sweets with Andy Valentine of Stockley's

Curious Business: The B2B Growth Podcast