Business is sweet for the Brierley Hill nut processors Quality Kernels after winning new contracts to supply major UK confectionery firms.

With turnover having tripled in the last couple of years and another 40 per cent growth forecast next year, the firm has turned again to UK Steel Enterprise for an injection of funds to buy more new machinery.

Two years ago QK - based at the Enterprise Trading Estate - took its first loan from the Corus subsidiary, which invests up to £250,000 in local companies, to help company growth.

It worked so well that owners Suzanne and Andrew Waller are now expanding again and selling not just nuts, dried fruit and edible seeds to the UK bakery industry, but also some of the largest confectionery manufacturers.

Suzanne said: "We are adding value to our products to meet the needs of the major confectionery firms, famous household names in the industry. The new machinery sugar roasts and caramelises the nuts.

"We have completely reorganised the interior of our factory and have streamlined the facility to take on this new market."

Increasing orders have led to more jobs being created with staff numbers now at around 17.

Turnover has topped £3 million, triple what it was two years ago, and next year could see another major leap forward to exceed £4 million.