A Bradford-based sausage producer, whose ‘Made in Britain’ brand helps it export products around the world, has been cited in a business barometer which reveals increasing confidence among the region’s small and medium manufacturers .

The British Premium Sausage Company, on Bowling Back Lane, has increased sales by £600,000 to £ 1.5 million in the past 12 months, increased its floorspace by a third and recruited five extra staff. It now sells 12 varieties of sausage to customers in markets ranging from the Falklands to the Netherlands and is set to launch a Spanish chorizo and Italian salami range in more than 270 Waitrose stores across the country.

Ian Cundell, who runs the Bradford business with finance director Andy Dalton, said: “Consumers want to buy British at the moment and we’re really making the most of this with strong branding, investment in marketing and developing our range of sausages.

“International interest has been huge and our products are now enjoyed in numerous countries across the world, ranging from the Falkland Islands and the Netherlands to Qatar, Hong Kong and Thailand. We’ve also won a number of awards for our sausages, including ‘Delicious Yorkshire’ and ‘BPEX Foodservice Gold’.”

The company is highlighted by the Government-funded Manufacturing Advisory Service in its latest business barometer which confirms that business confidence among SMEs is at a twelve month high.

The MAS survey shows that 63 per cent of companies questioned are expecting to increase sales over the next six months. Some 39 of the 89 firms which responded reported a rise in sales turnover, whilst 91 per cent of respondents are either looking to take on staff or keep workforce levels the same.

Appetite for investment has also seen an upturn, with 41 per cent planning to boost spending on new technologies and 46 per cent intending to invest in new machinery and premises, two per cent higher than the previous quarter.

Martin Coats, MAS area director, said: “If you compare findings with the similar period in 2012, you will see that firms are a lot more optimistic, with most key performance responses measured showing positive improvements.

“There appears to be a greater appetite from SMEs for investment in order to remain competitive and I think we are also seeing a desire to create jobs to meet expected demand.”

“The barriers to new opportunities are also interesting.

“Poor profit margins and lead times both paint a potential picture of unrealistic customer expectations.”