AWARD-WINNING Belfast tea-blending firm Suki is to creating seven new jobs after a government-backed cash infusion to buy new kit to help boost its overseas sales.

The company, based at Twin Spires on Northumberland Street, is investing £250,000 towards the expansion, helped by £35,000 from Invest NI.

The new jobs - three of which are already in place - will mean an additional £127,000 in salaries.

Suki, which blends teas and herbal infusions, already sells to customers in Japan, Europe and Africa, but aims to grow its business in Britain, the Republic and other regions. "Our objective in making this substantial investment in the business is to increase our capacity, capability and flexibility to enable us to exploit opportunities for our existing and new products," said Suki's managing director Oscar Woolley, who founded the company in 2005 with business partner Anne Irwin. "The new equipment we've installed strengthens our blending activity and will also enable us to respond faster to market trends."

John Hood, Invest NI's director of food and tourism, said: "Our support is enabling this ambitious boutique tea blender to respond to continuing year-on-year growth in demand for its 45-strong portfolio of teas and infusions from customers particularly in catering outside Northern Ireland. "It currently sells over 80 per cent of its teas abroad and achieved 25 per cent growth in turnover last year."

Suki Teahouse, which currently employs 12 staff, began business at St George's Market in Belfast (it retains a stall there) and has since expanded to become a supplier to major retailers such as Dobbies, independent delis across the British Isles, and hotels including the Merchant in Belfast.