HEREFORDSHIRE snack giant Tyrrells is going big in America.

The Leominster-based firm is set for international expansion after agreeing a deal to have its products rolled out by a US bakery chain. Au Bon Pain, the bakery/café group, now sells Tyrrells across its 250-strong estate in North America.

Chief executive David Milner said: "America is our most competitive market, but you only have to have a relatively small share to make it worthwhile. Au Bon Pain is a national chain and we have our crisps in all of their branches across the US. It's now our single biggest customer. We've been in there about three months so it's very new, but it will give us significant growth this year. "

Mr Milner has visited New York, Pittsburgh, Australia, Tokyo, Milan, Paris and the Middle East in the first months of 2015 as the popularity of the brand's popcorn, potato and vegetable crisps continues to rise.

Sales had topped £40m at Tyrrells in the year to March 2014, up from £34.2m in the previous year. During the period, European sales rose moderately to £6.4m from £6.1m while other international markets increased to £2.3m from £1.7m.

But Mr Milner said: "We've grown by 20 per cent this year (2014/15), which is a very pleasing level, both in the UK and internationally. The brand is doing well in the UK. We have innovation around popcorn and vegetable crisps, which have been very attractive to consumers wanting something different."

Tyrrells' biggest European market is France, which had also grown over the past 12 months. Mr Milner added: "It's encouraging when your biggest international market still continues to grow at double digits. We also have a strong business and Switzerland and Italy, which is our newest European market."

Tyrrells was founded in 2002 by Herefordshire farmer Will Chase. It was taken over by Middle Eastern luxury brands investor Investcorp for £100m in July 2013.