A NEW contract with a national supermarket chain is set to deliver �5,000 a month to a tiny St Neots confectionery company founded by two mothers of small children. Nutty Tarts started five years ago with a cake stand at a school fund-raiser as a result o

A NEW contract with a national supermarket chain is set to deliver �5,000 a month to a tiny St Neots confectionery company founded by two mothers of small children.

Nutty Tarts started five years ago with a cake stand at a school fund-raiser as a result of a conversation between two mums waiting to pick up their children.

Now the company, run by Deborah Armiger and Rachel Warwick, pictured, has picked up a contract to supply 23 Waitrose stores in the East of England with a range of biscuits and cakes.

"It has taken six months to get the details sorted, and now we are working flat out, including Bank Holidays and weekends, baking 1,300 cakes for our first order," Mrs Armiger told The Hunts Post. "We are going to have to take on more staff.

"It will settle down a bit after that, but our three-year plan is to sell to all 113 Waitrose stores."

The company - a finalist in last year's Hunts Post Huntingdonshire Business Awards - operates from a shared kitchen at the St Neots and District Indoor Bowling Club, but it is negotiating with Huntingdonshire District Council for new premises. The new purpose-designed kitchen will be funded initially by two Huntingdon-based 'business angels' who have now taken a financial interest in the expanding company.

"It's the business advice as well as the financial backing that has enabled us to move ahead," Mrs Armiger said. "This is a huge achievement for us, as we started the business from our own kitchens, baking orders received from our website."

Nutty Tarts, which also supplies outlets such as Landins in Kimbolton, prides itself on including no preservatives or additives in its traditional hand-baked cakes and biscuits.

INFORMATION: Nutty Tarts is on 01480 406434, website: www.thenuttytarts.co.uk