Inside the corner of a Manchester factory that is straight from a sweet-lover's dream
The smell that hits you as you enter the room is utterly addictive. Sugary sweet with a hint of bitter almonds and vanilla, it's like a bakery - just one that has been distilled to its most concentrated essence.
The air is so thick with powder that even just breathing in feels like you’re taking a bite. If you could bottle that smell into perfume, it could sell into the thousands.
The M.E.N. is inside the Love Hearts room at the Swizzels factory in New Mills. Giant metal funnels come down from the ceiling, the air filled with clatter as they spill out freshly pressed sweets in their classic colours of pastel pink, green and white.
Valentine's Day is around the corner, and Swizzels Matlow is preparing for one of the romantic days of the year. This room is a hive of activity.
