Family firm's expansion into American market

White Star Momentos Titanic Gift and Souvenir Suppliers has secured its largest contract to date with a USA Titanic exhibition company.

Details of the deal, understood to be initially around 0.25 million, were outlined to guests at a specially themed evening in Carrick Sailing Club on Friday.

Ed Larkin, company director said: "We are delighted to announce this news, our American partners intend to market our souvenirs as coming from the birth place of Titanic, this I believe is extremely important and a key factor to our success. "

The family operated business currently supplies over 60 UK and Republic of Ireland retail tourism outlets with its products. Alongside this, sales from the online web site have grown to see over 400 parcels a month filled with Titanic gifts being shipped throughout the world.

Invited guests were treated to a luxurious Titanic cocktail, a string quartet, talks on the Titanic and the launch of two new products into the range of gifts.

Stephen Larkin, company director, added: "Titanic was all about quality, presentation and being the best. This is the ethos we work to enhance our position as Europe's leading Titanic gift supplier."

Among the guests were East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson and writer Martin Lynch, who is to pen a play on the role played by the "troubleshooters" from the Belfast shipyard who worked on the construction of the vessel and made the ill-fated voyage.

Brothers Ed and Stephen Larkin are also involved with the drive to restore the White Star tender SS Nomadic.

Fellow maritime history enthusiast Councillor Sean Neeson praised them on their vision.

He said: "This is great news for Carrick that the company has won this major US contract and clearly with the Titanic centenary coming up in 2012 I have no doubt we can look forward to further expansion of their business.

"Also it coincides with good news for the Nomadic, which has secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund of 3.65million."