BOLTON'S only liquorice producer is 50 years old today.

Maxilin Ltd, which was founded by the late Kenneth Gregory and associates in 1946, is now preparing for a booming, export-led future.

The company is looking for new premises to replace its factory in Swan Lane and the head office/conversion/distribu

tion premises in Sharples Vale.

A move, if a suitable location can be found, would probably lead to an increase in the current workforce of just over 50.

Workers were today celebrating the firm's golden jubilee with a cash bonus.

But there was sadness that the founder was not there to share the occasion.

Mr Gregory, who would have been 87 yesterday, went into work most days until shortly before his death in March, even though he had not been well for the previous two years.

Success for the confectionery business was based mainly on "Flyers" - soft liquorice sticks filled with fruit-flavoured sugar crystals which Mr Gregory created.

But there was also a major success in 1953 with "Coronation Sherbo."

Since his death the chairmanship has passed to Mr David Barlow, Senior Partner with chartered accountants Barlow Andrews in Chorley New Road, Bolton.

Mr Barlow and Mr Les Murray, who has been at the company 16 years, are joint managing directors.

"Today everybody is remembering Mr Gregory with a deep sadness that he is not with us to celebrate," Mr Barlow said.

Both he and Mr Murray are determined that the business Mr Gregory founded and developed will continue to grow in the future - just as he would have wanted it.

"It is a success story for a local company with a successful product", Mr Barlow said.

"It is still going places."

Mr Murray said that so far this year things were looking "pretty good", with exports now making-up 60 per cent of the company's turnover.

Flyers and "Super Reds" - a glucose-based version - were very popular in a number of countries.

These include Denmark, the biggest market, where the Danes prefer an alternative salty flavour.

There is even a vodka cocktail called a Flyer - the contents are poured into the drink and customers then eat the liquorice.

Flyers sell well in France, Spain, Malta, Australia and Switzerland.

Lately the company has gained a foothold in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland.

"Growth is much quicker than it has ever been," Mr Murray said.

"We see exports, particularly in Europe, as the biggest growth area of the lot."

Efforts in this direction include taking a stand - with DTI assistance - at a major world-wide confectionery exhibition to be held in Cologne next January.

"There are a lot of areas still to be exploited - nobody else makes these anywhere in the world," Mr Murray said.

At home, the UK market is "pretty static" at the moment.

Maxilin has found that the general demise of the corner shop has affected sales of Flyers.

Mr Murray said they were now looking at a wrapped version to be sold in garages and kiosks.

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