A CONFECTIONERY firm based in Port Glasgow is taking a bite at one of the fastest growing food markets in the world by launching its own vegan-friendly chocolates.

The New Chocolate Company has introduced its own range of sweet treats completely free of animal products.

Owners Brian and Joanne Dick have also unveiled an eye-catching non-vegan gift ideal for DIY enthusiasts - an edible tool set.

The couple , who live locally, have enjoyed great success since starting the business two years ago, with their products in places like the five-star Edinburgh Grand Hotel and the Scottish Parliament.

But the expert chocolatiers, part of a team of five at the Kelburn Business Park factory, are always adapting to new trends and trying to stay ahead of the curve with their own quirky creations.

Brian said: "Vegan is a big market and you have to be able to develop things for that market, as well as traditional markets.

"We've had requests for vegan chocolate so we introduced a vegan range but we wanted something with a twist. "So our new vegan-friendly bars include flavours like candied orange and dark chocolate and chilli.

"We've introduced another 10 chocolates to our range in total and we're now up to 24 flavours.

"There's lots of good stuff happening."

Among the new additions is the authentic looking set of edible tools.

Joanne said: "They're fabulous.

"They look so real. "They'd be a great gift for kids to give to their fathers at Christmas."

But the DIY-inspired chocolate creation came about almost by chance.

Brian said: "We've had the moulds for ages and I was experimenting one day and wanted to see what they would look like with a silver and bronze finish to make them look a bit more rustic.

"The people we've shown them to have been blown away.

"We've had a great response."