A CALORIE-conscious outlook by a confectionery giant has resulted in healthier year-end profits, it has been revealed.

Snack food trader Glisten, which has a confectionery operation in Hill Street, Blackburn, has seen its year-on-year pre-tax profits rise by 18 per cent, to £5.66m.

Turnover at the firm, which used to have its headquarters in Blackburn before relocating their front office to Leeds, is up by five per cent to £58.6m.

And while sales in the confectionery division are down from £31.9mn to £30.4m, this has been attributed to a major capital investment prog-ramme, which affected supplies to the Blackburn operation's sister site, Nimbus, in North Wales.

More than £1m has been invested in the Hill Street factory over the past year to improve production capabilities.

The latest figures cover the period up to the end of June - and sales in the two months since then are said to be encouraging.

Group chairman Jeremy Hamer said: "Our continuing strong focus on premium, healthier and more natural snacks and confectionery positions Glisten in exactly the right place to capitalise on the well-being trend in snacking and the rising demand for quality products."

And there was positive news for the confectionery business also, which also has a branch in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

"Our confectionery busi-ness continues to be a profitable, exciting and important part of what we do.

"This year we have supplied products as diverse as Taste The Difference Belgian chocolate-coated sesame seeds to white chocolate-covered raspberries and bake-stable fudge pieces for in-store bakeries," said Mr Hamer.

The confectionery arm has also bought 50 per cent of low-fat and low-sugar sweets maker Skinny Candy and acquired Dormen Foods, a healthy snack nuts retailer, during the last financial year.

Glisten employs 670 people across its seven UK sites.

Popular brands made in Blackburn include chocolate sweets and popcorn such as Chicago Joes and Pop Watsons.

Other brands the group is involved with are SunMaid raisins, Fruitus bars and Fair Trade concern Halo.