EXPORTS to eastern Europe are set to boost business for a dog food manufacturer which has carried out a £6m expansion as orders grow.

The investment by North Yorkshire based Wagg Foods will enable it to produce up to 26 tonnes of dog food every hour.

The firm, which has doubled its workforce in the last three years, also expects to add up to 10 people to its staff of around 85 as production increases.

Wagg, which produces dry food for dogs, cats and small domestic pets, has seen its exports increase dramatically in the last year.

Sales director Tom Page said: "We have a lot of irons in the fire with retailers around the world and we need the extra capacity."

The Thirsk based company recently launched its ranges in Poland and has licences to start selling into Russia.

This week figures released by HM Revenue and Customs showed that Russia was the North-Easts fastest growing export market, with Nissans Sunderland plant producing more cars for that country than any other European state.

Wagg, which already enjoys success elsewhere in Europe, in Asia and in North America, believed the eastern European market was set to grow further.

Mr Page said: "They are developing markets and pet ownership there is growing, that is an opportunity for us.

"Central and eastern Europe and Russia is our main focus, we are receiving the most inquiries and the most new businesses are opening up over there.

"We have a license from the Russian authorities to start exporting and we anticipate shipping the first order in the next six to 12 months.

"I think they value British products, I am a firm believer that around the world if you are manufacturing in Britain you are manufacturing something pretty decent."

The Thirsk factory houses Wagg Foods and its sister company Harringtons as well as producing home brand ranges for the likes of supermarkets.

The Harringtons brand was launched around two years ago and the new investment will give the company flexibility to extend the range of its products.

It plans extensive new product development during the next year.

The business has invested £4m on a third extruder, plus £2m on a factory extension to house the new equipment and infrastructure.

The extra space is also home to an additional 700 tonnes worth of raw material storage space and 16 more storage bins, each holding up to 45 tonnes of finished product.