A NORTH YORKSHIRE firm is celebrating after clinching a multi-million pound deal which could lead to the creation of 30 new jobs over the next 18 months.

Bosses at ProVet UK Ltd, of Helperthorpe, near Malton, have just signed a five-year £7.5 million contract to supply a Japanese company with natural products for the ornamental fish industry.

The deal with Tewin Mills International (TMI) fish farm in Welwyn Garden City - the UK outpost of Niigata koi breeders - involves providing a "secret formula" using natural minerals and supplements which will be milled into pellet feed for prize-winning koi carp.

It all means a big boost for the Ryedale firm, probably leading to ten new office jobs and about 20 new factory posts over the next 18 months.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said ProVet managing director John Makin, who revealed that as a result of the contract it was also looking to move from its current prefabricated home at Westfield Works at Helperthorpe.

But though he was actively seeking premises in the York and Pocklington areas he had not found suitable ones yet.

The signing followed a "whirlwind" visit to Japan recently when Mr Makin met top koi carp breeders - one champion fish he saw was said to be worth £150,000 on its own.

The deal was especially pleasing since the company was first registered only six months ago. It currently has only five staff, people that Mr Makin said were targeted for their expertise in their own fields, to be in the right positions within the company - a technique which seemed to have worked so far!

Mr Makin also paid tribute to the contributions of company chairman David Munro, and fellow partner and international businessman Herbert Van Moppes.

He said TMI would distribute three ProVet products to 40 countries world wide. The £7.5 million figure represented the projected sales over five years, but Mr Makin said that was a conservative estimate, adding: "I'm quietly confident that we could possibly double that."

The firm also provides natural vitamins and mineral supplements to the agricultural and equine industries.

In about six weeks it will be launching a new natural supplement for piglets, a product which has already been subject to extensive farm and laboratory trials.