FOOD firm Tracklements has opened a kitchen for customers to get a closer idea of what goes on behind the scenes.

The kitchen is the latest part of a £300,000 six-month expansion at the firm's Pinkney Park site, in Sherston.

The company, which employs 25 staff and produces mustards, sauces, savoury jellies and vinaigrettes, has also built bigger packing areas and more spacious offices.

It produces two million jars a year and its products are sold in outlets including Harvey Nichols and Fortnum and Mason.

The expansion was completed last month and has seen the company's offices move to a new building on 2,000sq ft of land alongside the firm's existing site.

The demonstration kitchen is located in the factory area and sales director Guy Tullberg said it is designed to increase customer awareness and product testing.

He said the firm, which was founded by his father William, provides food to about 650 delicatessens, butchers and shops around the country.

The kitchen is aimed at existing customers as well as new ones. Two groups have already visited and Mr Tullberg said tours are booked to take place in January and February.

He said visitors get a two-hour tour of the site as well as a demonstration in the kitchen. "This is mainly for our retail customers," said Mr Tullberg.

"This gives us a base from where people that we don't necessarily see can come here and see what we do and try whatever mixture of our products they wish.

"Rather than saying, here's a jar of jelly, and leaving them to it, we can sit down and chat and they can view our products.

"The idea is to enthuse people and get them enthusiastic so that when they come to sell our products they can enthuse about them as well."

He said the kitchen area has a demonstration stand and the feel of a domestic kitchen, but a sliding divide can be opened up to create space to accommodate up to 20 people.

He said the kitchen will aid the company's product development, which he said had previously taken place in his family's kitchen.

"With the expansions we've made we have the garlics, mustards and sugars all on site whereas we used to have to cart it back up the road," added Mr Tullberg.

"Now we have a selection of about 20 raw materials at our fingertips for testing new products and to improve existing ones."

He said Tracklements is responding to an increase in industry standards over the past five years, particularly in pub food.

The expansion will create four to five new jobs in the packing department in the run-up to Christmas.