Two Huntingdonshire companies have received recognition from one of the UK’s leading small business champions.

The Hunts Post: Sisters Louise, left, and Laura Cox, creators of Kiss-Air Candles, withTheo Paphitis.Sisters Louise, left, and Laura Cox, creators of Kiss-Air Candles, withTheo Paphitis. (Image: Archant)

The OOO Company and Kiss-Air Candles took part in Dragons’ Den star and retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis’s Small Business Sunday initiative, where firms tweet Mr Paphitis with the hashtag #SBS between 5pm and 7.30pm on a Sunday, and the most interesting six are retweeted the next day.

It means businesses’ tweets are then promoted to more than half a million people. Business profiles are also added to the Small Business Sunday website.

After the retweet, both the Broughton-based Cypriot olive oil company and Kiss-Air gained hundreds of followers and several orders for their wares.

Kiss-Air, in Little Paxton, also increased its stockists, including Barretts in St Neots and Wood Green.

On January 28, Kiss-Air founders Louise and Laura Cox and OOO owners Rob Marsden and Pam Pantazi were invited to the #SBS conference and given the chance to meet Mr Paphitis.

Ms Pantazi said: “We had a giggle with Theo because I told him that I felt sorry for him as I’d heard he didn’t have any decent olive oil at home, and we gave him a free bottle.”

Mr Marsden added: “We’ve only been in business a year and we’re still trying to establish ourselves in a very crowded marketplace amongst some giant olive oil producers.

“It is great to have support from Theo because it’s been tough trying to raise our profile. Theo has recognised our hard work and helped spread the word about what we do to his following.”

Louise Cox said: “We launched Kiss-Air Candles two years ago and are thrilled with the support we have been getting locally and nationally.

“It was amazing to get a boost from someone like Theo and we are excited for the opportunities that may open for us.”