January sales of vegan-friendly Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls have risen by 15 per cent since the launch of the annual Veganuary initiative, which encourages people to try a plant-based diet.
Wigan-based Uncle Joe’s are 100 per cent natural and contain no artificial colours or additives, and as well as being suitable for vegans, they are GM free and also suitable for the gluten free diet.
Bosses said they have seen a gradual lift in sales since Veganuary was launched in 2014, with 2022 set to be the best year to date.
The event was started to promote and educate about veganism by encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. It has increased in popularity each year, with more than 580,000 people from 209 countries taking part in 2021.
The world-famous premium Uncle Joe’s sweet brand has a wide range of vegan-friendly sweets, ranging from its traditional Mint Balls and sugar free varieties to its alcohol-free apple cider, dark rum, rhubarb and ginger gin, and wildberry gin flavours to help people embarking on a Dry January.
It also has four flavours of throat and chest lozenges and herbal cough varieties.
Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are made by Wigan-based William Santus and Co Ltd, a privately-owned traditional sweet company that was established in 1898.
The ownership has been passed down through the family generations and joint Managing Directors John and Antony Winnard are the great, great nephews of the company’s founder.
They said: “January is traditionally the month when people try to be healthy but that doesn’t mean that they have to stop having the occasional treat.
“As Veganuary has become more and more popular we have noticed a significant rise in sales as people look for sweets that tie in with a vegan lifestyle.”
Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls are still manufactured using the same traditional methods as when Mrs Santus originally made the sweets in her kitchen in 1898.
