Ian Taylor of Speyfruit in Elgin is tasting the sweet smell of success as his wholesale fruit and vegetable processing business has gone from strength to strength recently with help from HIE Moray.

About four years ago, Ian - who has 25 years experience in the fruit and vegetable trade - saw a niche in the market for processing and adding value to fruit and vegetable produce.

Speyfruit works hand in hand with chefs from a wide range of organisations from the local catering trade to schools, hospitals and factory outlets. Speyfruit use their specialised machinery to provide produce to the exact requirement and cut required by each client.

Ian Taylor said: "Clients only have to show us the cut they require and our specialised machinery replicates this in terms of size, shape and uniformity. Any quantity can be processed from kilos to tonnes and the equipment offers a high degree of precision at the same time as providing produce to the highest standards."

With the increase in business growth since Ian started the business, Speyfruit needs additional capacity to help service demand for their products.

Construction of a new £580,000 building is therefore planned to be built adjacent to its existing premises on Chanonry Industrial Estate in Elgin. HIE Moray has approved funds of £96,000 towards the new development that will allow Speyfruit to enter new markets and increase productivity once the development is complete.

John Maclennan, senior development manager at HIE Moray said: "This is a significant project for the Moray economy as it is set to create up to an additional 20 new jobs. It will also allow the business to segregate processing and packaging and provide a facility for product tasting and development.

"Helping businesses like Speyfruit to expand into new markets is a high priority for HIE Moray as this is essential for long term growth of the business and we wish Speyfruit every success."