ROBERTSON'S-Ledbury Preserves has made its first in-roads into the Latin American and US market.

The company, the UK's sole production line for Atora suet, has exported 200 12.5kg cases to the Panamanian firm Caribbean Patty, and more could follow.

Production manager Richard Moore said: "It should lead to a lot more orders from that part of the world."

The Atora production line came to Ledbury three years ago from Teeside, following a £2m investment from Rank-Hovis-Macdoughall, owners of Ledbury Preserves. The factory employs 180 people.

The Panama order will not lead to an immediate jobs boost, but will lead to more Ledbury-made ingredients reaching the potentially lucrative USA market.

Products containing Panamanian beef suet is not acceptable for US import and the use of Atora vegetable suet allows the south American firm to export.