A MEAT processing business is hoping its new haggis pakora will land on the shelves of supermarkets across the country next year and is also eyeing a move into the ready meals sector.

McKechnie Jess, established more than a century ago, is in negotiations with a number of multiple retailers about stocking the pakora with positive feedback having been received from buying teams.

The Greenock company has developed the product after investing in a £500,000 seven-metre frying line allowing it to make battered and crumb products.

Chris McCarthy, managing director of McKechnie Jess, part of A P Jess Scottish Food Group, said the company is also hoping to attract food service companies to use its new version of the pakora dish.

He said: "It is about being innovative with food and using a quality ingredient, such as our haggis, in a wide variety of ways

"Negotiations with supermarkets are going very well. We have had samples going in to [retailers] recently.

"We were at one of the large supermarkets down south and they loved the idea and product as a year-round thing, not just for Burns Night and New Year.

"More and more of the retailers see it as a foodie product and can sell it at a premium."

Mr McCarthy confirmed the company is also hopeful of packaging together haggis-based ready meal products - starting with haggis and chips - during next year.

He said: "Already we have had a lot of interest in that one meal [idea]."

If the pakora product takes off Mr McCarthy plans to add to the 50 strong workforce at the company.

He said: "We will employ more people. The fryer gave us that extra capacity so that safeguarded jobs in other areas where things had slackened off and I'm already looking at bringing people in."

Haggis sales across the business are said to have seen a 50% increase in volume to around 500,000 pounds in the past 12 months.