PIE makers Hollands helped profits at its parent company rise by more than ten per cent.

Northern Foods increased profits to £94.5 million in 1998-99 compared with £82.7million in the previous year.

In the convenience foods division which Baxenden-based Hollands is part operating profit grew by 3.9 per cent.

"We have made a solid start to the year in a competitive market place. Our investment programme, designed to further improve our productivity and innovation, will yield increasing benefits as the year progresses," said the company today.

Hollands employs more than 400 manufacturing pies and ready made meals. It recently launched a new pastry product called Wedgy's.

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