The Sweetzone story began in 2002. Father-and-son team Bashir and Yasin Okhai founded the business. Today, we are one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of HMC-certified halal confectionery. We supply supermarkets, wholesalers, convenience stores and independent retailers across the UK and internationally.
Our reputation comes from producing high-quality sweets with great taste, strong value and trusted halal certification.
From Soft Drinks to Confectionery
Initially, the business focused on soft drinks under the Unibev brand. The family already had extensive experience in soft drink and confectionery production.
However, as the business evolved, our focus moved entirely to confectionery. This change laid the foundations for the Sweetzone brand that customers know today.
The Launch of Sweetzone
In 2004, we recognised growing demand for high-quality halal confectionery. As a result, we introduced some of the first products in the Sweetzone range. These included our marshmallows and candy floss.
The products quickly became customer favourites. They also established Sweetzone as a trusted brand for taste, quality and value.
Expanding Our Confectionery Range
Many of our original products remain popular today. These include Mighty Mallows, Mallow Twists and Pencil Jelly.
Since then, our range has grown significantly. It now includes jelly sweets, fizzy sweets, belts, pencils, fruit chews, hard candy and lollipops. In addition, we offer sharing bags, retail tubs and 1kg bulk bags.
Many early customers chose Sweetzone because our products were halal. However, the brand has since grown far beyond its original audience.
Today, people from many backgrounds enjoy Sweetzone products. They value the flavour, quality and value that our confectionery offers.
Building Long-Term Partnerships
As our product range and national distribution grew, our customer base also expanded. We are proud of the relationships we have built over many years.
Our long-standing customers include Bestway Group, United Cash & Carry, Lioncroft Wholesale and Khanjra Cash & Carry. Many have supported Sweetzone since the early years of the business.
In addition, we have developed lasting partnerships with major UK retailers. These include Asda, Booker, Morrisons and Tesco.
More recent customers include World of Sweets, Euro Garages and Van Dijk Wholesale in the Netherlands. Together, these partnerships reflect the continued growth of the Sweetzone brand.
Growing Sweetzone Internationally
Sweetzone has supplied European customers since the early years of the business. Our markets include Ireland, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway.
Since 2016, we have also built a strong presence in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, our business continues to grow in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other international markets.
Sweetzone Today
Today, Sweetzone offers one of the UK’s most comprehensive halal confectionery ranges. Products come in several retail-ready formats, including sharing bags, tubs and 1kg bulk bags.
Furthermore, many Sweetzone products are suitable for vegan and vegetarian consumers. This helps us meet the needs of an increasingly diverse customer base.
As the Sweetzone story continues, our goal remains the same as it was in 2002. We aim to create high-quality confectionery that retailers trust and consumers love.
Finally, we look forward to growing the Sweetzone brand across the UK and internationally.
