Kids and grown-ups may love it so, but for too long the world of Haribo has been woefully underrepresented by our sweet shops. While other sugary giants like M&Ms have had a slew of international stores of their own for ages, Haribo have been relegated to the sidelines, condemned to sit alongside other, lesser brands in newsagent mediocrity, with only two Haribo-only shops in the entire country. This ends now.
From 16th of April, an all-new, Haribo exclusive sweetshop will be opening just north of Chester in the UK. The store, which will reside in the Cheshire Oaks shopping centre, will provide customers with a range of gummy sweets and merchandise, plus access to an exclusive Pic ‘n’ Mix selection. Brexit may be making us all miserable, but it’s clearly not all bad news in Britain.
Haribo have long been a firm favourite among British sweet lovers, winning acclaim from public figures as diverse as the much-derided former Prime Minister, David Cameron and the current Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Up until now, however, despite years of popular admiration, the German-based confectionary brand have only operated exclusive stores in London and in York. The new project promises to be quite a coup for the North East.
As part of a statement to accompany the news, Haribo's retail manager Rebecca Fox said that, "After much planning, we’re thrilled to be bringing Haribo’s fun and unique personality to life once more - this time for shoppers at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks.” She went on to add, "We opened our first outlet store in December 2017 and in November last year our York store opened its doors too – both are experiencing a great deal of success which we are hoping to replicate and build on. Once again we’re excited to showcase our much-loved range and to provide the perfect place for visitors to immerse themselves in the happy world of Haribo whilst enjoying everything that is on offer at the extensive outlet."
This enthusiasm for the project was mirrored by a visibly excited Kenny Murray, Cheshire Oaks' Centre Manager, who added, “We are thrilled to welcome Haribo to Cheshire Oaks, they are a fantastic addition and elevate our family friendly offering. We look forward to seeing the smiles on our guest’s faces as they experience the new store.”
Of course, to many around the world, news of a new Haribo shop might elicit little more than a shrug. The brand has been a force around the world for years, expanding its empire to America, Australia and Asia in the process. However, when British news has been as interestingly grim as it has been for the last few weeks, we need to celebrate at every opportunity. Here’s hoping Haribo aren’t the only sweet specialists with an announcement up their sleeves.
This article was originally published on Twisted.