Welcome to the House of Sarunds
Few know and understand the wholesale chocolate business like the House of Sarunds. Since 1987 we have been importing and distributing chocolate and confectionery to outlets both nationally and around the world. Independently owned and managed, the House of Sarunds now supplies the largest range of premium British and Belgian chocolate currently available to the independent retail and food service sectors. We process and supply over 3,000 confectionery products from over 100 suppliers to retailers, hotel chains, restaurants and cruise ships from our five warehouses in Blandford Forum in Dorset.
Our experienced, consumer-orientated management team has over 100 years' combined know-how in the wholesale chocolate industry and strive to support customers to maximise the profit from their confectionery sales. With a strong belief in nurturing our staff, over half of our employees have been with the company for over 10 years, resulting in a real strength in experience across the company. Our on-going ethos is to provide the highest quality products in the wholesale chocolate market hand-in hand with outstanding customer service. This is why The House of Sarunds is the trusted chocolate wholesaler of choice for over 2,500 customers.
A chocolate rich history
Founded 35 years ago from a small chocolate shop in Salisbury, the House of Sarunds philosophy has always been based on an experience and love of its product. In 1987 it began its importing business and within two years its confectionery distribution had become a national concern. By 1994 the company focused solely on importing and distributing premium chocolate and had moved to the Sunrise Business Park in Shaftesbury. Peter Martin, who, along with wife Jackie had purchased the original chocolate shop in Salisbury in 1997, became managing director of The House of Sarunds in 1999. The company moved to its current location in Holland Way Business Park in Blandford in 2001 and, after a period of steady growth and expansion, broke the £10 million turnover in 2014.
Today, with an annual turnover of £14 million and employing 60 employees across 35,000sq ft of warehouse and office space, House of Sarunds is one of the largest chocolate wholesalers in the UK. We pack over 500,000 boxes of own label and bespoke chocolates a year and over 850,000 outers are dispatched from the main warehouse. Our online fulfilment department dispatches over 100,000 parcels and over a quarter of a million deliveries are made every year. Our in-house packing department handles own label, personalisation and bespoke new product development creations.
Life is like a massive box of chocolates
As well as our online ordering facility, The House of Sarunds publishes three distinct wholesale confectionery range catalogues a year: General, Halloween & Christmas, Valentines & Easter. We continually review selections and introduce new brands as we find a new supplier that meets our exacting standards and can complement the existing Sarunds range. Our development team also works with some award-winning national and international chocolatiers to create bespoke lines specifically for the UK market. Many of our brands, such as Van Coillie and Unitopia, are exclusive to us and, because we choose to sell only to the independent sector, we can help retailers access a 'one stop' destination store. We supply a irresistible selection of more unusual artisan confectionery, such as Caluwé and Guylian, one of the UK’s most popular Belgian chocolate brands.
We all have a favourite
Our constant aim is to be the very best chocolate wholesaler for all our existing and potential customers, whatever their size or demands, and this always distils into the three simple maxims of quality, service and price. With the widest range of the finest confectionery from home and abroad, we're confident of the quality of our product. Our warehouses and delivery lorries are temperature and humidity controlled to ensure your goods are stored and delivered in optimum condition, whatever the weather. We live in the real world and mistakes, though rare, do happen so Sarunds has a 'no fuss' policy to always ensure sure that you, the customer, are always satisfied with the service you receive. Price is, of course, always a factor but, as one of the largest chocolate distributors in the UK, our buying power means that you can always expect the best value.
Looking to the future
As our planet grows warmer and dryer, and as consumers slowly begin to adapt their lifestyles and shopping habits to be more environmentally conscious, so too must Sarunds look to the future. We already have implemented a number of eco-friendly practices across our warehousing, packaging, distribution and even our offices. We are constantly looking to reduce waste, conserve energy and recycle where possible. Recycled board and plastics for packaging are now widely used across our operation and are continually looking to source plastic-free, recycled and sustainable materials.
As a chocolate wholesaler sourcing confectionery and ingredients from around the world, we scrutinise the source and manufacturing process to ensure that every product and producer is ticking as many environmentally-friendly boxes as possible. Of course it's not always possible but, as public demand grows for products that can contribute towards a 'net zero' target, so we must evolve too. For instance, we will look to adapt our supply chain to distribute products that source cocoa grown using sustainable practices and without deforestation.
