CAKEMAKERS Inter Link Foods announced the sweet taste of success today with a 26 per cent jump in pre-tax profits.

The Blackburn-based firm, which owns the Crossfield bakery in the town, increased sales by eight per cent in the year to April 30 to £9.34 million.

Inter Link manufactures products including chocolate mini rolls, swiss rolls, fruit pies and cherry bakewells for major supermarket retailers including Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Tesco.

During the year, the firm purchased the freehold on the factory in Blackburn from £383,000 and invested £130,000 at the site to improve productivity. The firm has also invested £240,000 at its other bakery in Oldham and is investing £470,000 on projects across the two sites across the coming year.

"We've been able to announce good results because of our staff and the commitment they've shown," said chief executive Alwin Thompson today.

"With new products and new ideas I am confident that shareholders can look forward to future growth in the year ahead."

Shares in the firm have been rising in recent weeks and closed at £1.54, their highest level ever.

Shareholders in the company will receive their first final dividend of 1.5p a share.

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