CLEVELAND butcher's Newboulds is celebrating ten years of business with Asda supermarkets.

In addition, it is taking on another 15 full-time staff, after landing a contract to bake an extra 6.5m pies - and is also involved in other discussions surrounding an important contract for a new range of produce.

Newboulds began supplying Asda's Middlesbrough branch and now provides food to more than 20 branches in the region. Products include traditional butcher's fare such as pies, pease pudding, savoury ducks and saveloys. Five million Newboulds' pies have been sold over the years - enough to stretch from Middlesbrough to London and back. Two pies are sold every minute in Asda branches.

The family-owned firm's main office and factory is at Riverside Park, Middlesbrough, and it also has a number of high street butcher's shops.

Marketing manager Nicola Newbould, of Kirkby, near Stokesley, said: "Throughout this long and prosperous partnership with Asda, we have prided ourselves on supplying local quality products. This winning combination is very popular with customers, who love our traditional fare."

She said Henry Newbould Ltd was established in 1856, making it Middlesbrough's oldest privately-owned company.

Over the years, it has been named best butcher in the North and best butcher in Britain, and has also won awards for pork products in particular, as well as for its displays and enterprise.

Asda said the length and success of the ten-year-partnership illustrated its commitment to using local products and offering customers the best of British food.

Middlesbrough store manager Barry Thompson said: "Newboulds products are a firm favourite with customers. We hope this partnership will grow stronger over many years to come."