RECORD trading results for a North Yorkshire manufacturing firm prove that candy is dandy.

Pecan Deluxe Candy (Europe) Ltd, at Moor Lane trading estate at Sherburn-in-Elmet which provides add-in fudge, caramel, toffee and flavourings for the UK and European ice cream industries today announced that its turnover had trebled since 2001 to £3.6 million, with exports accounting for two-thirds of the total.

Sales of £4.5 million are predicted for the next financial year and profits are forecast to double.

Masterminding the success - and schemes next year to consolidate its 35 staff under one rather than five roofs at Sherburn-in-Elmet - is Tony Webster, former banker of Harrogate who initially launched the former Harriet Webster's in 1955 by selling fudge from a handcart on Scarborough promenade.

He went on to start manufacturing fudge pieces for ice cream at Sherburn-in-Elmet in 1995 and having broken into the U.S market two years later his venture was acquired by the Pecan Deluxe Candy Company.

Now it has diversified into making other ice cream add-ins such as praline nuts, truffles and sauces with £200,000 recently invested in a chocolate-making department and a further £20,000 on sauce production facilities.

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, November 18, 2003