Boy band boost for bakery firm

FINSBURY Foods said strong sales of Scottish-made cakes featuring the likes of One Direction and Spiderman helped it to a 50 per cent increase in pre-tax profits.

Sweet sound: cakes featuring bands such as One Direction have proved tasty with consumers. Picture: Reuters

The Cardiff-based business, which employs more than 1,100 at its Scottish operations – including the Lightbody cakes operation in Hamilton, said profits from continuing operations rose to £2.1 million from £1.4m in the six months to 28 December.

John Duffy, chief executive of Finsbury, said it had been a “transitional year” for the group, which had seen it significantly improve its balance sheet.

“Whilst the trading environment remains tough in the short term, our low level of debt and interest costs allow us to make significant investment in our factories and businesses,” he said.