A Midland manufacturer of Asian sweets has set up a manufacturing hub in Birmingham after securing funding from Barclays.

Mushtaq Sweet Centre, which was established in 1987, has opened the new 480 sq m site at Cato Street.

The new site will handle the manufacturing of the firm’s products to supply its retail outlets in Birmingham and London.

Despite the company name, Mushtaq specialises in both sweet and savoury snacks.

Owner Mohammed Javaid said: “We identified the need to manufacture from an independent site which has freed up space in each of our retail outlets where the manufacturing used to take place.

“This has enabled us to improve the retail experience for our customers and manage our manufacturing processed more efficiently.

“We have recently taken on three more staff to cope with the growing demand for our products.”

Mohammed Fiaz, senior business manager at Barclays in Birmingham, said: “We have enjoyed a relationship with the business for many years and I have enjoyed witnessing the progress made by Mohammed and his team.

“I am delighted we have been able to fund the purchase of the new, bespoke manufacturing site which will bring about greater efficiencies in the business and also open up new opportunities within the retail spaces the company has.”

Mushtaq Sweet Centre employs 20 people across its Birmingham shops.