TWO well-loved Lancashire food companies will be joining forces to expand their reach across the country and develop a new range of Asian snack products.

Clayton Park Bakery of Accrington, which supplies pies and baked goods to Liverpool Football Club and SPAR retailers across the North of England, will be joining Bolton world foods company Fazila Foods Ltd to develop the range, which will include spicy samosas, onion bhajis, fresh wraps and a range of curries.

Fazila Foods are already available in SPAR outlets around the north of England, but this latest development, which will see the company join Clayton Park’s parent company James Hall & Co., brings the potential to expand that distribution further across the UK.

Clayton Park founder and managing director Barry Thomas said: "We are very excited about bringing Fazila’s authentic range into our product portfolio.

“I am sure we can provide some unique recipes that will help both businesses to develop van sales and strengthen our businesses in the market."

James Hall & Co. are Lancashire's largest employers with over 3000 staff and are the primary distributor to SPAR stores in the North of England.

Fazila Foods, meanwhile, started when home cook, turned entrepreneur, Fazila Malek began using traditional Asian recipes to produce a range of handmade ready meals.

Within just two years of trading the business had to move production from a home kitchen to a 6000 square foot manufacturing facility.

Ms Malek said: "We're looking forward to a positive future working with Clayton Park Bakery and James Hall & Co.

“With these great businesses we're expecting to strengthen a secure and successful future for our staff and customers."

"The partnership of Fazila Foods and Clayton Park Bakery is a true meeting of East and West, and this is reflected in the products we are offering. It's a fusion in every sense of the word."