Leeds TikTok famous sweet store Candy Works turns over £1.4 million in first year
Viral TikTok pick 'n' mix videos launched the success of Candy Works, but one year on, the company have had more orders than they could have possibly imagined.
Candy Works, a pick 'n' mix store in Leeds, have just announced a turnover of £1,400,000 during their first year of sales.
Husband and wife duo, Ryan and Sophie Taylor came up with the idea of building their own business whilst out of work over the pandemic period.
Starting with just £400 work of sweets, the couple used TikTok, a relatively new platform at the time, to share their new business venture. It didn't take long for their videos to pick up traction and their pick 'n' mix videos went viral, landing them over 1000 orders overnight.
Working out of their spare bedroom, the couple worked tirelessly to find suppliers and meet the unprecedented demand.
There were what felt like hundreds of pop up sweet shops that started online over lockdown but it was the array of international sweets that Candy Works offers that helped their success.
The company import holiday favourites like Lays crisps and American classics such as Mike & Ike and Chips Ahoy! and sell them as standalone products or as part of their pick 'n' mix selection.
Orders are then packaged up and shipped across the world to their customers. Candy Works post addictive '#PackAnOrderWithMe' videos where viewers can see exactly what others are buying.
This series, along with Q&As and 'Sweet of the Day' videos make up their daily TikTok content. Due to the incredible following of 1.2 million users, the couple have accumulated 35.4 million likes since the launch of their business, an undeniable factor in their success.
Since their November 2020 launch, they have officially turned over £1,400,000 and employ twelve members of staff to help run Candy Works.
To recognise their efforts, Sophie and Ryan Taylor have won the Lloyds Bank Small Business Award for 2021 and were ranked the third business on TikTok, just behind Tango Ice Blast who have a cult following of 137,700 followers.
Moving forwards, the company plan to expand across the UK and increase the number of staff to keep up with orders.
To check out the latest sweets available from Candy Works, check their TikTok and use their website to place an order.
Netflix is set to air a new documentary about the investigation of Lucy Letby, and the trailer has now been released.
The feature-length film about Lucy Letby - the infamous neonatal nurse who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others under her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital - hears for the first time from the police officers who investigated the case that shook the nation.
It features never-before-seen footage of Letby during her arrests and police questioning, and even includes interviews with experts and lawyers on both sides, as well as with the hospital consultants who initially raised the alarm.
Tragically, it also includes an anonymised interview with a mother of one of the victims, who also speaks for the first time about her experience and involvement in Letby’s trial.
Produced as a result of years of research and relationship-building, the film - simply titled The Investigation of Lucy Letby - is described as being the most 'comprehensive' look at one of Britain's most notorious crimes, and traces developments from her arrest to trial in chronological order.
Viewers will be given 'unparalleled and exclusive access' to those central to the story.
"This was an exceptional and demanding project, marked by significant creative and ethical responsibility," commented director, Dominic Sivyer. "Our aim was to craft a powerful, emotionally resonant depiction of the events surrounding the case."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x93eZD1F4vs
Caroline Short, Head of Global TV at ITN Productions - who produced the documentary - added: "The access to all our contributors came with a huge responsibility to present everyone's perspectives with care and understanding.
"We are grateful to all those people who trusted us to tell their story."
The Investigation of Lucy Letby will be released and available to stream on Netflix in the UK and Ireland on 4 February 2026.
Featured Image - Cheshire Police
News
Arctic Monkeys release first song in four years as part of upcoming all-star War Child album
Clementine Hall
The full track list for the charity album has been released, featuring Fontaines D.C., Pulp, Olivia Rodrigo and loads more.
The legendary Sheffield indie group have been largely silent (as usual) since the release of their last album, The Car, back in 2022.
But today, the monkeys are back with a brand new song titled 'Opening Night' , in support of War Child's upcoming project to provide aid for children living through war.
That project being 'HELP(2)' - a brand new collaborative album inspired by the landmark 1995 release 'HELP' to engage music lovers globally in support of the charity's vital work.
The new album will be released on Friday 6 March and was brought to life through close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios, recorded predominantly across one extraordinary week in November 2025 under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford.
There's so me pretty huge names on the album who have contributed, including Fontaines D.C, Pulp, Damon Albarn, Wet Leg, Young Fathers and so many more.
Recorded in a single day in 1995, the original ‘HELP’ album raised over £1.2 million, enabling War Child to provide vital support to thousands of children caught in the Bosnian conflict.
The full track list to the album is: ‘HELP(2)’ Tracklist:
Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night
Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest - Flags
Black Country, New Road - Strangers
The Last Dinner Party - Let’s do it again!
Beth Gibbons - Sunday Morning
Arooj Aftab & Beck - Lilac Wine
King Krule - The 343 Loop
Depeche Mode - Universal Soldier
Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng - Helicopters
Arlo Parks - Nothing I Could Hide
English Teacher & Graham Coxon - Parasite
Beabadoobee - Say Yes
Big Thief - Relive, Redie
Fontaines D.C. - Black Boys on Mopeds
Cameron Winter - Warning
Young Fathers - Don’t Fight the Young
Pulp - Begging for Change
Sampha - Naboo
Wet Leg - Obvious
Foals - When the War is Finally Done
Bat For Lashes - Carried my girl
Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis - Sunday Light
Olivia Rodrigo - The Book of Love
You can pre-order the album here and listen to the new song by the Arctic Monkeys here.
Sophie Smith -
18th October 2021 
