Every sweet has a story, and ours began more than 140 years ago.
In 1885, Henry Dixon started a small confectionery business dedicated to making exceptional sweets and toffees. Built on traditional methods and a passion for quality, his famous Mint Rock and Cherry Balsams quickly became favourites—recipes that continue to be enjoyed to this day. As the years passed, the business flourished, earning a reputation as one of Sheffield and Yorkshire’s leading manufacturers of premium hard-boiled confectionery. Henry’s son proudly carried the family tradition into the mid-20th century, ensuring the same commitment to craftsmanship and taste remained at the heart of every sweet.
Just over forty years later, in 1927, another Yorkshire confectionery story was taking shape. The MacDonald family began making sweets in Bents Green, Sheffield, producing the traditional boiled sweets that would become synonymous with the Maxons name. From the much-loved Yorkshire Mixture and classic Pear Drops to Winter Mixture and an extensive range of nostalgic favourites, Maxons became a name trusted by generations of sweet lovers.
At the same time, Ralph Pitchfork was building one of Yorkshire’s most respected wholesale confectionery businesses. His passion for quality confectionery and strong relationships throughout the industry would eventually help unite three proud confectionery traditions under one roof.
During the 1950s, these historic businesses came together, along with the iconic Jesmona Black Bullets, creating the company recognised today as Maxons. Under the leadership of Ralph Pitchfork, followed by his son Roger, the company continued to grow while remaining true to its traditional roots. For decades, Maxons proudly manufactured its sweets in Sheffield, becoming one of Britain’s most respected names in traditional confectionery.
A New Chapter
Today, Maxons proudly enters a new era under the ownership of Master Confectionery, an independent British confectionery manufacturer dedicated to preserving the country’s rich confectionery heritage.
At Master Confectionery, we believe that great sweets should never lose the traditions that made them famous. While we have invested in modern manufacturing systems and rigorous quality assurance procedures, the heart of our business remains firmly rooted in traditional British sweet making. Our skilled confectioners continue to hand craft our products using time-honoured methods that have been passed down through generations, ensuring every batch delivers the authentic taste and texture our customers expect.
Quality is at the centre of everything we do. Every stage of production is carefully monitored, from the selection of premium ingredients through to cooking, flavouring, packing and final inspection. Our robust quality assurance systems ensure consistency, traceability and food safety without compromising the traditional character of our confectionery.
We are proud to manufacture our sweets here in Britain, supporting British craftsmanship and keeping alive the heritage of traditional hard-boiled confectionery. In an age of mass production, we remain committed to producing sweets with care, attention to detail and genuine pride in our craft.
As custodians of the Maxons, Jesmona and other historic confectionery brands, we recognise the responsibility of protecting recipes that have been enjoyed by families for generations. Our goal is not simply to manufacture sweets, but to preserve an important part of Britain’s confectionery history for generations to come.
From the unmistakable flavour of Jesmona Black Bullets to our extensive range of classic boiled sweets, every product reflects our commitment to exceptional quality, authentic flavour and traditional British craftsmanship.
Master Confectionery – Proudly British. Proudly handcrafted. Proudly preserving Britain’s sweet-making heritage.
Maxons 