THERE is good news from luxury chocolate-maker Browne's of Okehampton — the company is to take on more staff after the launch of its 'Devonshire fudge'.

Managing director Joe Keohane said the latest venture was a natural progression for the firm, which already made fudge as an ingredient of its hand-crafted chocolates, and a boost for the local workforce.

Made using only natural ingredients, including milk and cream from the West Country, and with no hydrogenated fats, Browne's Devonshire Fudge has been launched in retail outlets across the UK.

Of 25 staff laid off when Browne's went into administration, 12 have already been re-employed since he and business partner Nick Baker bought the firm in March — more will now be taken on to work in the firm's dedicated 'fudge plant' which will also be producing a Cornish fudge in two flavours, clotted cream and butter.

Mr Keohane, who with Mr Baker previously ran Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall, said: 'Sustainability, using local and natural ingredients, was very important to us at Sharp's — we won awards for it — and it's equally important for Browne's.

'This is a great business with a fantastic tradition of creating excellent products and we're confident our Devonshire Fudge will be another winner, both for visitors keen to take a little bit of Devon home with them and for those lucky enough to live here who want to enjoy a delicious, natural and sustainable treat'.

Browne's makes chocolates for clients including Waitrose, Tesco, Duchy Originals and Krispy Kreme, as well as producing its own luxury chocolate brand.

Together, Mr Keohane and Mr Baker developed Sharp's from a micro-brewery into the UK's fastest-growing producer of cask and bottle-conditioned beers before selling the business to brewing giant Molson Coors earlier this year for £20-million and buying Browne's, with the objective of repeating their success.