The founders of Green & Black's are exploring how to launch products from their new bakery venture into retail - using chocolate supplied by the brand.

Craig Sams and his wife Josephine Fairley, who sold the business to Cadbury in May 2005 for a reported £22m, are already using Green & Black's chocolate for cakes in organic bakery Judges, which they set up in 2005 in Hastings.

Fairley said there was a "distinct possibility" that some of the £1m-turnover bakery's bestselling lines, such as chocolate brownies featuring Green & Black's as an ingredient, "could go into retail in the future".

"We're still very much part of the family at Green & Black's and I am already involved in discussions with them about some possible projects," she added.

Other bestselling products, such as the bakery's pink mer ingue pigs - which are coloured with natural beetroot dye - would also be suitable for retail, she added. It is unclear whether Green & Black's branding would feature on Judges products in retail, but it is not used at the bakery.

Sams, who is also chairman of the Soil Association, remains president of Green & Black's following the Cadbury takeover.

However, the couple are planning to build on their bakery venture with the development of a franchise format.

"We've got the format right, and I could absolutely see Judges stores all over the country," Fairley said, adding that it was already in discussion with a number of people.

The 450 sq ft bakery is in Hastings old town .

Topics