Shrewsbury confectioner selling products in theatre, on TV shopping channel... and the House of Lords

Shrewsbury-based nougat and butterscotch specialist Champion & Reeves has now added the upper chamber of Britain's government to its list of customers, as demand for its high-end produce continues to mount.

It is the most high-profile of a number of recent supply deals for the company, which is also seeing its confectionery stocked in Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn for the first time, as well as in the new All Things Shrewsbury shop in Roushill.

Company director Jacqueline Champion has also landed a slot on television shopping channel QVC to promote and sell the products.

"We sell products in the House of Commons and last year we were invited to their Christmas Fair at Westminster," Ms Champion said.

"While there I met a buyer from the House of Lords who really liked our butterscotch and wanted to stock it in the House of Lords shop in the official red and gold colours.

"It confirms out place as being one of the top confectioners in the UK. There are not many people that make confectionery in the UK outside chocolate and fudge.

"Having a British brand helps with our reputation for quality and taste."

The company has recently moved for the second time in little more than a year after leaving the Food Enterprise Centre in Shrewsbury for premises in Vernon Drive, nearby on the Battlefield Enterprise Park.

That has also allowed the company to diversify its product range to include chocolate covered almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts.

"We are working long hours at the moment," Ms Champion added.

"From a business perspective we are spreading our wings, and compared to last year we are selling to a greater spread of businesses.

"We were quite dependent on selling through wholesale in the past, whereas now we have a broader reach of people we sell to, which is good for the business."