Snack maker feeds market

UTTOXETER vegetable crisp maker glennans is targeting export growth this year.

Expansion at the up-market snack manufacturer means it now employs 65 people at the Dovefields Industrial Estate factory.

Its range of pan-fried crisps – which includes parsnip, beetroot, sweet potato, carrot and plantain – has already reached Spain, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Now glennans believes Scandinavia will be a growing market this year.

The firm has been in the crisp business since 1986.

Richard Thompson, brand manager, said: "Our main competitors are usually high-end potato chip manufacturers, but our core product is vegetable crisps and we are now the biggest in Europe.

"The European market is three to six years behind the UK market, but it's going in that direction."

Until last year, glennans only supplied the catering industry and other brands.

But it has now launched a consumer range which has been taken on by Tesco.

The firm's plans for 2010 include targeting other major retailers and increasing the range of products taken by Tesco.