Yorkshire-based baker and patissier Just Desserts has launched a number of new products and has hopes to tackle the top-end retail sector, following substantial investment at its Shipley factory.

The firm took over a unit that became available next to its factory last year and spent around £50k doubling the factory’s floor space to around 3,600sq ft, expanding the bakery and investing in new equipment, as well as streamlining and modernising its operations, explained MD and founder James O’Dwyer.

The company has seen business grow by 15% in the year to March 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.

“There are a lot of opportunities in the marketplace, so we’re trying to raise the profile of the company,” said O’Dwyer.

He explained that the business aims to capitalise on what it does best and will look at targeting some of its successful products, such as its award-winning treacle tart, at the top-end retail sector, including upmarket foodhalls.

Its new products include pear-and-almond and fig-and-almond ‘franzipans’, and it is relaunching Sweethearts – puff pastry hearts with a fruit conserve and a strawberry mousse filling.

Established in 1985, it currently employs 16 people and supplies the foodservice sector, as well as farm shops and delicatessens.