A CANDLE-making company which started life in a shed is celebrating the opening of a new factory shop and the launch of its own range.

JB Candles, based at Hartlebury Trading Estate, near Droitwich, was founded four years ago by Prince's Trust winner, John Scarratt, and designer Brian Simmonds.

The opening of the factory shop, which adjoins the manufacturing unit, took place on Friday, and was attended by local business people and Worcestershire's Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Angela Brinton.

The company, which manufactures candles for Harrods, Selfridges, Royal Worcester Porcelain and Laura Ashley, among others, was also celebrating the launch of its first own-brand range, called Harmoni.

The brand represents a departure for the company, which had previously only supplied candles for other retailers, and gives the company its own identity.

Previewed at the Autumn Fair, at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, in September, the range has already caused ripples in the industry.

We were delighted with the positive comments we received about the range, said sales and marketing director, Andy Singleton, who joined the company at the beginning of last year.

An intensive review of the market place which is constantly changing in line with changes in interior design fashions was undertaken by Mr Singleton before the launch of the new brand, which includes four different ranges.

With your own brand you have control over your own destiny you don't have to wait for orders from other people, said Mr Singleton.

Originally based at Grimley, the company is now in its second premises on Hartlebury Trading Estate, having had to move to keep up with the enormous growth of the business.

The launch of the Harmoni brand and the opening of the new factory shop secures the jobs of the company's 25 permanent employees and creates three new permanent jobs, as well as around 20 seasonal jobs in the manufacturing unit.

The company will also employ agents to gain national coverage of the Harmoni brand and is investing a significant amount of money in marketing it.