SWEETS firm Cadbury Trebor Bassett wants to establish the UK's premier confectionery gift service from a base in North Yorkshire.

The chocolate-to-Liquorice Allsorts company has enlisted Hemingways Marketing Services to oversee the e-venture.

The North Yorkshire operator will direct all sales, marketing and distribution operations and is building a distribution centre at Melmerby, near Ripon, to handle online orders.

Wetherby web pioneer NetConstruct has won the contract to develop the website - www.cadburygiftsdirect.co.uk - which is due to be launched during the summer.

Hemingways joint managing director Andrew Johnson said: "Our e-sales and marketing experience, combined with NetConstruct's web development, technical and e-business expertise, will provide Cadbury with a powerful online e-business presence."

NetConstruct has considerable e-business expertise and has partnered Hemingways in projects involving many other household names, including Debenhams and House of Fraser.

Chris Morgan, customer relations director for Cadbury Trebor Bassett, said: "We have long seen the web as an important part of our marketing mix and this new venture represents part of our strategy to use the web to support our brand development."