A LEADING Herefordshire crisp maker is continuing to make waves across the globe after announcing the acquisition of a German snack company.

Already established as the UK's fastest growing hand-cooked crisp and snack brand of scale, Tyrrells Potato Crisps Ltd announced it had acquired Aroma Snacks GmbH & CO KG.

The family-run firm is based in Germany, near Lake Constance, close to the borders of Austria and Switzerland.

It is one of Germany’s largest organic crisp producers and home to the Lisa’s Hand-Cooked Chips brand.

The announcement comes just nine months after Tyrrells’ first step into international manufacturing with the acquisition of Australia’s leading organic snacks company Yarra Valley Snack Foods in August 2015.

It increases the number of Tyrrells manufacturing sites to five globally.

But despite the global expansion, Tyrrells remains resolutely based at Tyrrells Court Farm in Herefordshire, from which it exports to over 37 countries.

David Milner, Tyrrells CEO, said: "Our heritage will always lie in Herefordshire at Tyrrells Court Farm and we will always remain loyal to our roots – retaining our quality flavours and quintessentially English sense of humour, which are recognised the world over.

"As a result, UK production will continue in Herefordshire.

"We are delighted to increase our capabilities in Europe as well as to boost our organic expertise with this acquisition. Tyrrells is now in an excellent position to ensure we continue to meet growing demand for Tyrrells in continental Europe."

With brand value set to reach £230m this year, this global success has been underpinned by success at home, with AC Nielsen reporting that Tyrrells value sales in the UK rose by 17% in FY16.

Germany is now the company’s largest European market, followed by France, where Tyrrells is the number one premium crisp brand. The German organic market is the second biggest in the world after the USA, followed by France and the UK.

The acquisition of Aroma Snacks GmbH & CO KG will provide Tyrrells with a manufacturing platform to build on its success in Germany, support accelerated sales across Europe and build its organic capabilities.

Mr Milner said: "We have been pleased to have seen such uplift in demand for our products and it’s encouraging to see our fan base of snack lovers ever growing.

"In FY17, international sales will represent 40% of our turnover of which our European expansion represents a big part.

"We’re targeting a global brand value of £234m in FY17, a year on year growth of 36% and our aim is to reach even more consumers around the world with our hand-cooked range."

Tyrrells currently employs more than 300 people in the UK and it is anticipated that the net number of jobs will increase as a result of the acquisition.

However it is too early to say exactly how this will affect job numbers and investment but the firm says Herefordshire remains at the heart of its growth plans.

Jochen Krumm, managing director of Aroma Snacks GmbH & CO KG added: “I am delighted to be working with Tyrrells and look forward to realising our combined growth potential.

"We are very excited about the opportunities that this acquisition presents both nationally and internationally.”