Russians traditionally love sweets. Our country is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of consumption of confectionery products. The average Russian's spending on sweets in 2017 amounted to almost 7.1 thousand rubles. In such conditions, the production of sweets is a very promising line of business. Even in conditions of high competition, a quality product will find its buyer.

The article will tell you how to open a mini candy making workshop. We will also consider the stages of business development and provide calculations of the return on investment of the business.

Brief market analysis

The majority of products presented on store shelves - more than 93% - are produced in the Russian Federation.

Consumption of sweets and other confectionery products is now at a high level, even despite the decline in incomes of Russians after the 2014 crisis. Now Russians consume 4.5 kg/year, until 2014 - 5.1 kg/year (per person).

In 2017, the total consumption amounted to almost 3.5 thousand tons (4% higher than in 2016). In 2018, purchases of sweets increased to 3.6 thousand tons.

You can estimate the level of consumption and forecast until 2015 in the following table:

Table 1. Volume of consumption of confectionery products in 2013-2018. with a forecast until 2025

	Volume of consumption, thousand tons

What operations make up the candy production process: technology

The production process depends on what kind of candy is being made. The composition, form, production stages, and lists of necessary equipment differ.

There are several production stages:

1. Production of candy mass. It includes water, sugar, milk, molasses, butter, and various additives.
2. Formation. There are several methods for molding. One of the common ones is casting the mass in corn starch. The temperature at which the process takes place depends on the type of candy.
3. Glazing of confectionery products. Thanks to the glaze, the product remains fresh and tender longer.
4. Drying. In special equipment, the product is cooled, structured, and hardened.
5. Package. The product is packaged in a wrapper or box.

We will tell you more about the preparation of popular types of sweets below.

Caramel

The production of caramel requires inexpensive equipment and is not difficult.

First, sugar-treacle syrup and caramel mass are created. It can be prepared by mixing sugar in a solution under pressure or by mixing it with molasses to the desired consistency and moisture content. Afterwards the mass is processed - cooled, aromatized, kneaded and stretched.

Fillings are added depending on the recipe. Different ingredients are used to produce different types of caramel.

At the next stage, the products are formed and cooled. The finished caramel is wrapped, sprinkled, glossed, panned or glazed with chocolate. Afterwards, the finished product is sent for packaging.

Truffles

Truffle sweets can be made according to the following scheme:

1. Create a semi-finished product - chocolate mass crushed to powder with the desired fat content.
2. To prepare the chocolate mass, chocolate and oils (cocoa, coconut) are poured into the equipment. The machine thoroughly mixes the components.
3. The resulting composition is tempered and hardens within several hours.
4. The candy mass is churned in special machines.
5. Afterwards the truffles are formed. They are kept in cooling machines until they reach a stable shape.
6. At the final stage, the candy bodies are sprinkled.
7. The product arrives at the packaging department.

Truffles are more difficult to prepare. Both the recipe and the quality of the ingredients are of great importance here. Equipment for such production is quite expensive.

Dragee

The production of dragees is also not very complicated. The peculiarity of these candies is their hard shells. There are several types of cases (depending on hardness). The dragees themselves are made from a fine-crystalline substance obtained by churning a sugar-treacle mass.

Three main stages of dragee production:

• preparation of cases;
• their panning;
• glossing.

The mass is shaped, rolled in starch, and tempered until a body of the required hardness is formed around the dragee. Then the products are coated - that is, covered with powder and glaze. At the glossing stage, the product is coated with a moisture-proof wax-fat composition.

Equipment for the production of dragees is inexpensive and pays for itself fairly quickly.

Where to start a business?

The main cost item at the organizational stage is a production line capable of producing high-quality candies. It needs to be delivered to the factory and installed - the costs of this work fall on the businessman.

Table 2. Initial costs for a candy manufacturing business.

The calculations are relevant for a city with a population of up to 1 million people. Additional costs take into account the costs of utility bills, advertising, cosmetic repairs, creation, development and printing of packaging.

Registration

You can register a candy house in the form of an individual entrepreneur (individual) or LLC (legal entity). The first option is suitable if the entrepreneur plans to trade in small quantities. The second allows you to increase production volumes and scale of activity - it becomes easier to negotiate with retail chains to sell your product.

When registering with the Federal Tax Service, the OKVED code 10.82.2 “Production of chocolate and sugar confectionery products” is indicated.

After preparing the first batch of goods, it should be submitted for inspection to Rospotrebnadzor. He tests products, checks manufacturing technology for compliance with GOST 4570-2014 “Candy. General technical conditions". If everything is in order, a certificate of conformity is issued.

Purchasing ingredients

The cost of raw materials depends on the type of sweets and their recipe. All purchasing issues must be coordinated with a technologist who knows what ingredients are needed to create a quality product.

Common raw materials for candy production:

• sugar;
• cocoa butter, cocoa powder (base);
• eggs;
• milk;
• syrup;
• gelatin;
• agar;
• vanilla and other flavorings;
• nuts, plant seeds, berries, fruits (for filling).

It is important to buy high quality raw materials for production. This improves the quality of the finished product. Remember that competition is high - only delicious candies will be in steady demand.

Equipment for candy production

Our business plan is designed for the purchase of a candy production line consisting of:

• ball mill;
• tempering machine;
• containers for kindling;
• conche machines;
• refrigeration unit;
• packaging lines.

You will also need to purchase molds.

This equipment provides automation of the candy making process and performs all the necessary sequence of actions. Mixtures and ingredients are loaded manually. Line productivity is up to 150 kg per hour. Power - up to 40 kW.

The manufacturing company is responsible for installation and training of workers. Equipment for a mini workshop can be purchased in Russia or China, or, if funds are available, in Germany.

Room

To organize a mini-factory you will need an area of ​​250 square meters. m. The following are being set up here:

• Work shop with equipment. The production line takes up a lot of space. The workshop must be equipped with ventilation, three-phase current, water supply, sewerage, and heating systems.
• Warehouses for finished products and raw materials.
• Premises for staff (rest room, locker room).
• Administrative premises.
• Bathroom.

Geographically, it is better to locate the plant far enough from residential areas - perhaps on the outskirts or in an industrial area (where rent is cheaper). This arrangement will allow goods to be quickly delivered to stores. The plant must have convenient transport access.

Pass SES and fire inspections. Services will check the workshop for compliance with mandatory requirements.

Staff

To open a small production facility you will not need a large staff of workers. The production line is automated - employees only have to manage the work process, load equipment with raw materials on time, and ensure process continuity.

For the first time, 4 workers on the line are enough. Two more will be needed for warehouse work.

The technologist/senior in the workshop will manage the personnel, as well as the quality of production. Its main tasks are acceptance of the finished product and assessment of its quality. You will have to look for a technologist - this position requires a person with experience.

Invite an accountant to keep records. At first, he can be hired part-time or outsourced.

Marketing and sales

You can sell candies through your store or through retail chains. It is advisable to open your own retail outlet only in a favorable location and if you have sufficient funds.

A businessman will have to make an effort to interest people and encourage them to buy a new product:

1. Create a brand. People remember something simple, but at the same time bright and effective. Branding is an important point.
2. If you have sufficient capital, you can order advertising on television screens, place posters on billboards in the city, use the media to disseminate information about a new product, a new brand.
3. Conduct promotions, discounts and tastings in stores. Order competent merchandising. Conduct promotions through groups on social networks.

Financial plan: calculations of profitability and payback

The amount of initial costs is 9.78 million rubles.

Equipment productivity - 150 kg/h. In an 8-hour shift, 1.2 tons can be produced. According to the plan, the plant will operate in one shift, 22 days a month. The production volume for this period is 26.4 tons of sweets.

The price varies greatly depending on the type and quality of the candy. As an example, we took one of the lowest wholesale prices - 130 rubles. per kg. By selling all the products produced in a month, you can get a little more than 3.4 million rubles.

The total monthly costs are 1.1 million rubles.

Net profit will be 2.3 million rubles.

A candy business can pay for itself in 4.2 months. This can be achieved by fully loading the equipment and selling all the goods created in a month. For new production, the payback period can be increased by 3 times - up to 12.6 months.

Table 3. Economic justification for the business idea.

Producing sweets in your own factory can safely be called a profitable business. The figures given in the table clearly demonstrate this. Of course, this is an approximate calculation - it does not take into account tax deductions and several other cost items.

Before opening, it is necessary to carefully study the characteristics of the market and consumer behavior. For example, sweets are often bought for the holidays, and they also sell well during the cold season, when sweets go with hot tea. Taking these features into account will help in promoting and increasing sales.

Candy is a product that almost all people love. For this reason, many people who want to start their own business pay attention to this product. The fact is that the confectionery market is quite resistant to various economic changes. Gifts, purchases for children, as well as personal preferences make this segment very attractive among a relatively large number of buyers. If you are determined to open your own business in this area, then the first thing you cannot do without is a candy production line.

Candy production technology

In order to have an idea of ​​how a line for the production of various types of sweets functions, you need to have an understanding of some basic concepts.

First you need to decide what these beloved sweets are. So, candies are confectionery products that are obtained from candy masses with a soft consistency.

Ingredient mixing apparatus

This product has a fairly high nutritional value, has more than 1 thousand varieties and is varied in shape, taste and composition.

The technological process of making candies includes several stages:

• At the first stage, the ingredients that go into the fondant are mixed.
• Next, the resulting mixture is formed and cast into special molds.
• At the next stage, the molds with fondant mass are driven through a cooling system.
• Then glazing occurs.
• The final stage is product packaging.

Preparation of candy masses

Forming candies from fondant mass

Candy mass is a confectionery mass that is used to make sweets. All of them are divided into:

• Lipsticks. They are obtained from lipstick, which is prepared on the basis of sugar and milk syrups by introducing various flavoring and aromatic additives into it.
• Praline and marzipan. Praline masses are obtained from roasted nuts, and marzipan masses are obtained from raw or roasted ones.
• Whipped. These masses are obtained through the process of churning foaming agents and syrup and with the obligatory introduction of flavoring and aromatic additives.
• Liquor. These are masses that are saturated solutions of sucrose, to which milk, fruit preparations, flavoring and aromatic additives are added, and alcohol (cognac, liqueur, etc.) is also an obligatory component.
• Grilled. All grilled masses are divided into hard and soft. Solid roasted cake is a mass obtained by melting sugar with the addition of nuts (for example, Prometheus candies come out of a confectionery production line). Soft roasted fruit is a fruit mass that is boiled with nuts or candied fruits.
• Cream. These are foamy masses that were formed as a result of churning the latter with fats, flavoring and aromatic additives, and milk syrup.
• Jelly-fruit. These masses have a gelatinous structure and are divided into fruit, jelly-fruit and jelly. Fruit is obtained from fruit and berry puree; jelly-fruit - from the same puree as the first, but with the addition of agar, and jelly - with the addition of agar, agaroid and starch.

Candy molding

Candy Forming Line Molding is the process of giving candies a specific shape and appearance. Most often, on candy production lines, this process is carried out by casting, because thanks to this, it is possible to obtain sweets of various shapes. This molding is carried out into special forms, which are pre-stamped in starch.

Candy enrobing line

Glazing is carried out for several reasons. Firstly, this process protects the product body from external influences, secondly, it increases the nutritional value of the product, thirdly, it gives a beautiful appearance and, fourthly, it affects the taste. Enrobing is the process of covering candy with a thin layer of various masses (chocolate, fat, etc.).

Packaging and storage

Candy packaging line

This is the final stage when the final product is wrapped and packaged on the candy production line. The final product is wrapped in foil or a label. Most sweets are produced in wrapped or packaged form. Finished products are stored at temperatures up to +18 degrees, air humidity should not exceed 75% in a well-ventilated area.

Chocolate production technology

If we talk about chocolate candy production lines, they are all automated and highly mechanized, with the exception of expensive candies made exclusively by hand.

Handmade sweets

The production of this beloved sweet product takes place in special factories in confectionery shops, so at the initial stages of opening your business in this area, you need to think through and study a lot of subtleties relating to both the technological side of the issue and the legal one.

At the moment there are several lines for the production of chocolates:

• The Shell chocolate candy production line is a traditional technology that produces chocolate bars and other solid filled products.
• Line with One Shot technology - the production of chocolates is carried out in one stage.

In addition, it is impossible to imagine the technology for the production of chocolates without the following equipment: tempering machine, conche machine, chocolate and ball mills, sugar grinding mill, refrigeration tunnels, storage tanks. The set of necessary equipment directly depends on what kind of chocolate you plan to produce.

Technology for the production of fondant sweets

The line for the production of fondant sweets includes the following equipment:

Chocolate coated fondant candies

• Digester.
• Filter.
• Equipment for preparing fondant masses.
• Steam generator.
• Tempering machine.
• Jigging machine.

Making fondant candies is also a special process that consists of certain stages. At the initial stage, the syrup is prepared, followed by boiling, followed by the filtering process and churning of the fondant mass. Then, before the tempering process (one of the main stages of chocolate production), the fondant mass is dosed and mixed. After which the final product is directly formed. And the final stage on the fudge production line involves packaging the finished product.

The confectionery industry is considered one of the leading industries when it comes to the food industry. If you believe the figures, then in terms of production volumes it ranks second in the world. That is why, if you decide to start a business in this area, first of all, you need to take care of purchasing high-quality candy production lines.

Video: Handmade sweets

One of the main brands of the Saratov region is the Saratovskaya confectionery factory, abbreviated name is JSC KONSAR. It is better known as “Confashion”. Today we’ll talk a little about the factory, and at the same time we’ll see how candy is made.

The factory has existed for many years - its history dates back to 1930, when in the form of an artel named after. Rosa Luxemburg was located in the city center (at the corner of Radishcheva and Kutyakova streets). Now the factory has a different address, and its range is wider.

Why is the factory one of the main brands in the region? So, its products are sold in most regions of Russia (more than 60 regions of the country), as well as abroad (exports are made to 12 countries of the former USSR, except for the Baltic countries, as well as to China and the USA). And in 2015, the factory became the best exporter in the region. But despite this, the factory is more of a regional manufacturer.

Photo taken from Denis djhooligantk

Let's look at the production of the factory's main product - candy. Confectioners call this type of production sugary. So, all important sugary confectionery products are produced at Konsar: chocolates, caramels, toffees and chewing candies. They also sort gift sets. Products are constantly updated.

Information stand for employees

The factory produces 18.5 thousand tons of sugar products per year on 14 production lines. By the way, the equipment at the factory is both domestic and foreign (Italian, German and Swiss). The equipment is from different years, there is also some old equipment. But it does its job well and there is no need to change it. In addition, all equipment undergoes periodic maintenance.

Although it is worth saying that the factory is constantly working to improve the quality of its product range and diversity of assortment. Therefore, new equipment is also purchased - to open new lines. Thus, the “One Shot” line of candies was recently opened with the most modern equipment of Italian origin. The peculiarity of this line is that the formation of the filling and body is carried out simultaneously.

Now let's get acquainted with the candy production process itself. We will start the tour from workshop No. 6 (there are 7 workshops in total at the factory, which operate 40 lines for the production and packaging of confectionery products). This is a workshop for the production of the most expensive products - assorted sweets, which are also used for gift sets (see title photo). By the way, the factory produces about 1.5 million such sets per year. For such sweets, by the way, real cocoa butter is used.

Start of line operation - a machine with empty candy molds placed in it

The workshop has 2 production lines (both German) - Knobel And Yubitek .
Yubitek is a production line for candies with Assorted fillings. Chocolates with various fillings are produced here. Moreover, the forms of sweets come in a wide variety. Examples of candies of this line are candies and sets of candies “Confashion de Luxe”, “Overture”, “Miracle Nut”, “Cherry in Chocolate”.
And on the line Knobel they make deposited sweets - sweets based on marzipan, truffle and praline.

As I said above, candies have different shapes: basket, bottle, hemisphere, etc. This depends on the technical specifications received on the line. Each shape has its own dose of chocolate glaze. Glaze, by the way, also varies. The factory uses bitter, milk and white chocolate for glaze.

This is what a press looks like for giving future candy different shapes. Nowadays the simplest forms are made - hemispherical ones.

The process of creating candy is as follows: first, the machine forms the body of the candy (just the photo above), then the body comes with a cooling tunnel (10-14 degrees Celsius), then the filling is poured into the body. The filling and glaze are prepared ahead of time - in another workshop.

The top photo is a machine for shaping (on the right you can see the finished product - the conveyor line). The lower right photo is the body of the candy after cooling.

There are 2 filling machines installed on the line (photo below) - to quickly switch from one to another when the raw material runs out. This also allows you to make candies with two fillings at the same time.

And now the candy body is filled with filling.

This is what marriage looks like. Such candies are not sold - they are processed for subsequent production (for example, used for filling waffles).

After filling with filling, the bottom of the candy is made. To do this, the candies are heated a little (to melt the top a little), and then filled with chocolate and leveled.

Final view

And at the very end of the line, the candies are “shaken out” of the mold and placed on pallets for further sorting.
Some of the products end up on the packaging line, some - in warehouses.
First let's look at the packaging line. Here, the candies first go into the wrapping machine. There are several such machines, each with its own wrapping.

General view of the machine

Candy wrapping process

Ready-made candies coming out of the machine

Then the already wrapped candies go to packaging and packaging.

Here we see the weight packaging of truffles.

Video of this line and candy packaging in operation

Kingdom of various sweets

The sweets here are numbered: each type is in a special tray with its own number.

And already using these numbers the process of assembling the set begins.

This is where various gift sets are created: seasonal, holiday and themed. Here they are - in assorted form

Or like this

Residents of the region can purchase the factory's products both in federal chain stores and in their own branded outlets (for example, in the well-known Chudesnitsa stores). The factory also created an online store, which distinguishes the factory from others. This store is little known to Saratov residents, and in vain - all ordered products will be delivered to your home free of charge. True, there are some restrictions (for example, the minimum order value is 700 rubles), but there is a bonus system.

By the way, the work clothes of employees here are strictly monitored: white coats are strictly over all clothing and mandatory hats.

But not only candies are made at the factory. The flour production of confectionery products is also represented here, which we will talk about next time.

5 minutes to read. Published 11/08/2019

Competition in the chocolate production industry is so high that it’s time for a novice entrepreneur to think about how to attract the attention of customers. The originality and exclusivity of chocolates can be a great help in this matter. Yes, and for a natural product, without additives or impurities, consumers are willing to pay more. If you choose the right direction for business development, it will soon become profitable and promising.

Homemade chocolate business: where to start?

A chocolate business, like any other, requires official registration with the tax office. If you plan to produce chocolate or chocolate candies, selling products through a network of retail outlets or your own store, then. Wholesale customers and suppliers prefer cooperation with legal entities.
However, registration with the tax office does not end there.

The entrepreneur will need to visit:

1. In SES and fire inspection in order to obtain a conclusion on the compliance of the work premises with the standards provided for the declared activity. It must be equipped with utilities, ventilation, and a fire safety system. When producing food products, it is better to entrust this issue to experienced lawyers.
2. In Rospotrebnadzor , where you should submit the recipe for the manufactured goods and receive a certificate of their compliance with existing standards.

Note: To work with a food group, a medical book is required.

If you plan to open a store to sell your own products, then you should also obtain permission for it. In general, the cost of registering an enterprise and taxes will cost around 19,000 rubles.

How to organize the process of producing chocolates at home?

An important condition for the production of delicious chocolates is strict adherence to the technological process. The recipe for making them is easy to find on the Internet, but let a specialist do it. Complex recipes, selected by a chocolatier - for exquisite sweets. The standard technology for making chocolate at home does not require much effort or expense.

Required ingredients:

• Flour – 1 teaspoon.
• Cocoa – 5 tbsp. spoons
• Milk – 150 ml.
• Butter – 50 g.
• Sugar – 5-7 tbsp. spoons
• Molds for filling the finished product.

In a small saucepan or bowl, mix milk, cocoa and sugar, and bring the resulting mixture to a boil over low heat. Oil and flour are gradually added to it, with continuous stirring. When a homogeneous mass is obtained, the chocolate is ready. All that remains is to pour the filling into it (chopped peanuts, walnuts, raisins, waffle crumbs) and pour into molds.

If according to the technology you need to put whole nuts in the chocolate, then the mold is filled halfway, the filling is poured into it, and the chocolate is poured on top. After a few hours, the candies harden and can be eaten.

When organizing the production process correctly, the following conditions must be met:

1. Maintaining temperature conditions when storing finished products within 15-180C. Split systems and refrigeration chambers do an excellent job of this.
2. Compliance with product sales deadlines – no more than 2-6 months. To prevent chocolate from losing its taste and presentation, it should be stored refrigerated.
3. Transportation of chocolate is carried out in specially equipped vehicles.
4. Use of a business premises with an area of ​​at least 60 sq.m. It contains 2 rooms for a warehouse for storing raw materials and finished products, a place for a production workshop, and a washing area.

Advice. When making chocolate yourself, it is very important to purchase good equipment, since the taste of the candies depends on it.

True, in 99% of cases, small businesses do not produce their own chocolate, but purchase a ready-made product, process it and produce delicious candies.

Assortment of handmade chocolate products

To attract as many customers as possible, it is advisable to diversify the range of chocolates.

Current offers include:

• Gift Baskets.
• Chocolate figurines, postcards, portraits, sculptures.
• Truffles.
• Praline.
• Milk, black, white chocolate.
• Chocolate fountains.
• Diet chocolate and much more.

Recently, one of the fashionable trends among culinary specialists is a non-standard mixture of tastes and aromas. For example, the taste of chili pepper, olives, ginger and other spices is increasingly evident in chocolate. Confectioners offer chocolate-covered bacon, candies with dried tomatoes, candied fruits, and thyme. Sweets filled with fragrant aromas of coffee, roasted sesame and grated nuts activate the senses. The original packaging further enhances the pleasure of the exquisite taste of the sweets.

At the same time, the size of one candy should not be too large. To enhance the taste, it must be completely in the mouth. For example, the most common weight of truffles, loved by many, does not exceed 3-7 g.

Where to sell homemade chocolate products: chocolate market

There will be no problems with the sale of manufactured products if you agree in advance with retail outlets, cafes and restaurants on the supply of chocolate. However, taking into account the fact that homemade sweets have a short shelf life, it is better to produce them to order.

You can offer chocolate treats to someone who organizes holidays. If things go well, opening your own store will only increase turnover.

How much will it cost a beginner to set up a chocolate business: a sample business plan for producing chocolates at home

We offer a sample business plan for producing chocolate at home with opening your own store.

Startup costs

If an entrepreneur does not understand the intricacies of chocolate production, then he will have to send a specialist to take chocolatier courses, which means an additional expense of 15,300 rubles.

To summarize, the calculation is given for the production of dark chocolate bars:

1. The cost of chocolate is 76.7 rubles. for 1 kg.
2. Taking into account production costs, the cost of chocolate mass is up to 500 rubles. for 1 kg.
3. 1 kg yields 10 standard chocolate bars. The cost of 1 tile is 50 rubles.
4. Retail price of chocolate – from 100 rubles. for 1 tile. Income is 50 rubles. from sale.

The monthly profit of a chocolate production workshop is approximately 300,000 rubles. Within two years of productive work and subject to established sales, the initial costs of the business pay off.

Since childhood, sweets have been a favorite treat for many. Moreover, these confectionery products are so popular and varied that everyone probably has the most delicious and favorite candies that give only positive emotions. The love for candy begins in childhood. And often children, with their inherent spontaneity and faith in miracles, say that in the future they will definitely open a confectionery factory where they will produce delicious candies for every taste! By the way, if you had just such a dream as a child, it’s time to make it come true - a candy factory in Russia could be a reality.

Features of candy production

To organize a “sweet” business, however, you will have to work a little and spend some financial resources to start the activity. After all, in order for the factory to operate, you need to buy equipment for the production of candies, immediately find an excellent supplier who offers high-quality raw materials for the production of candies, and study the operating technology. And all this costs effort and money.

To make different candies, different raw materials are used, and the technological scheme for producing candies is also different.

Basically, sweet confectionery products are divided into three groups:

• Glazed candies, which are made from one or several sweet masses at once, and are covered with glaze on top.
• Unglazed sweets are not covered with glaze.
• Sprinkled candies - covered with cocoa powder, nut, wafer, chocolate crumbs.

As for the main candy mass, a wide variety of raw materials are used for it. There are confectionery products that are made from only one candy mass - such candies are called simple. And there are products that are prepared from several masses at the same time - they are called complex. Depending on the ingredients, candy masses are divided into fondant, whipped, fruit-jelly, milk or praline, liqueur, cream or marzipan, roasted or others.

Candy production - where to start?

Opening your own candy production means working in a highly mechanized, automated industry. The bulk of candy in the modern world is produced by a candy production line, while manual labor is kept to a minimum. Equipment for the production of chocolate candies is presented on the market in a wide range and is intended for the production of different types of sweets. But the entrepreneur decides to buy a line for the production of chocolate candies or select equipment for working with jelly or fondant candies. Usually, when opening small enterprises, they choose one or two lines to start operations, and larger factories use more serious, varied equipment, which allows them to offer consumers a wide range of confectionery products.

Otherwise, a candy production business begins like any other type of business - preparing documents for the possibility of entrepreneurial activity, drawing up a business plan, studying competitors and choosing the main range of products. The next important steps are finding and renting suitable premises, purchasing equipment and hiring qualified staff. Once all of the above steps have been completed, you can begin searching for a supplier of quality raw materials and starting production.

The main stages of candy production and the necessary equipment

The technology for producing sweets depends on the type of product being manufactured. For each type of sweets, separate equipment is provided, which has certain operating principles.

But it is still possible to identify the main stages in the production of sugar-based confectionery products:

1. Preparation of available raw materials.
2. Obtaining semi-finished products for the manufacture of candy mass.
3. Preparation of candy mass.
4. The actual formation of candy depends on the type of candy. This can be pouring into molds, casting into starch or sugar, spreading followed by cutting, rolling followed by cutting, forming on caramel equipment, vibropressing.
5. Formation of the candy structure.
6. Final finishing.
7. Package.

To produce high-quality and tasty sweets, you need not only modern equipment, but also high-quality raw materials. It is very important to use natural ingredients. And if it is impossible to do without dyes and preservatives according to the recipe, then the product should contain them within normal limits. In addition, preservatives should not be harmful to the human body. It is advisable to take into account European standards, since domestic ones are a little outdated.

We can talk a lot about equipment for the production of sweets due to its diversity. Of course, each entrepreneur decides independently what to purchase. The price of equipment for producing candy also plays a role. But it’s still not difficult to identify the main types of machines needed for work. This is a dough mixer, a candy-forming machine for making candies without filling, a machine for making candies with filling, a coating and decorating line, a cooling conveyor, a guillotine for slicing, and a packaging machine. This is a list of a kind of minimum set of equipment for the production of a fairly wide range of sweets.

Mini plant or large factory?

Any aspiring entrepreneur thinks about which business is best to invest in. Everyone understands that opening a small business is easier and less expensive, but the income from the activity will not be too high. It is much more profitable to open a large enterprise with a wide turnover. But this option requires serious investments, which not every businessman has. Therefore, entrepreneurs rarely start with large investments. Most often, small confectionery factories are opened - both at an affordable price and with minimal risks.

A mini candy production plant is a very good activity option for those who have long dreamed of a “sweet” business, but have little start-up capital. The initial investment may be enough to purchase high-quality equipment that allows you to produce one type of candy. And high-quality products, with proper planning of activities, will successfully enter the market and will soon allow you to receive a decent income.

Typically mini factories operate for several years. After this period, they either close down, since the entrepreneur cannot find his market and is not able to get ahead of competitors, which is why profits decline, or tiny companies grow into large factories producing different types of sweets. The second case is a clear example of successful activity. The profit received provides great opportunities for expanding production, studying new operating technologies and offering new varieties of delicious sweets to the market.

There is another option for starting with minimal investment for the production of confectionery products - mini-production of handmade sweets. In this case, financial investments are kept to a minimum, since complex equipment and expensive lines for enrobing, forming and packaging candies are not required. You will only need high-quality raw materials, interesting recipes and the skillful hands of the author of chocolate masterpieces. Yes, yes, masterpieces, because simple candies are not created by hand. So you need to be prepared immediately for the high cost of chocolates prepared with tenderness and love by the deft hands of a pastry chef. But that’s a different story – handmade sweets are still rare these days and are only sold in certain places.

Apart from making sweets by hand, producing sweets of any scale requires serious financial investments and a lot of effort. The organization of work must be thoughtful and effective, which not everyone can do. But if you have doubts about whether to open a “sweet” business or look for simpler and cheaper options for starting an activity, you must remember that the production of chocolates, although expensive at the beginning, will bring a solid income in the future. All invested funds will more than pay for themselves in a fairly short time and will help, if necessary, significantly expand production in order to reach a more serious level.