London, Feb 12 (IANS) A factory in Britain that produces heart-shaped, sugar-coated sweets has a total of 500 employees, of which 122 -- or 61 couples -- are in a relationship.

The Swizzels Matlow factory in Derbyshire that makes "Love Hearts" has been dubbed the country's most romantic workplace, according to the Daily Mail.

The company said one in every four workers at its factory is in a relationship with another employee.

The company makes 200 million Love Hearts every year, with each one featuring messages like "I Love you" or "All mine".

"One couple even used to pass Love Hearts down the production line to each other before they got chatting in the canteen. Love Hearts clearly inspire romance," said Jeremy Dee, director of the company.

He, however, said the figures were not deliberately released around Valentine's Day as a "cynical ploy" to sell more sweets.

"I think it's a lovely story that so many people met here," he said.