It Started with a Sweet Tooth
The Candy Plug UK began in a spare bedroom in Hove. Founders Chloe and Dan had always been obsessed with sweets — the weirder the better. After years of hunting down American candy in specialist shops and importing Japanese snacks for friends, they realised there was a gap in the market for a proper sweet shop that went beyond the basics.
They started selling pick n mix bags through Instagram, hand-delivering across Brighton on their bikes. Within three months, word of mouth had them shipping parcels across the UK.
From Bedroom to Bricks
By early 2021, the spare room was bursting at the seams with boxes of Nerds Rope, Drumstick lollies and fizzy cola bottles. It was time for a proper shop. They found a little unit on Gardner Street in Brighton's North Laine — right in the heart of the city's indie quarter.
The shop became an instant hit. Tourists, students, and locals all poured in. The wall of 80+ pick n mix jars became an Instagram landmark, and the American candy aisle pulled in customers from as far as London.
Going Nationwide
With the online shop booming and the Brighton store busier than ever, The Candy Plug UK expanded. New gift hampers, subscription boxes and corporate sweet packages were added. The team grew from two to eight, and the brand started popping up at food festivals, markets and events across the South East.
Today, we ship thousands of orders every month and stock over 200 varieties of sweets, chocolates and snacks. But every bag is still packed with the same care and love for sweets that started it all.