Inter Link expect a merry Christmas
earlier this year on unfavourable weather conditions but reported
an already strong market for the Christmas period.
The UK's second largest cake maker, who recorded a 20.7 per cent growth in profits in July's yearly results, announced at its AGM that the Christmas season would prove a boom time for sales.
But the company admitted that July had proved a tough trading time - a sentiment echoed by many British bakers who struggled to maintain sales in the heat.
Inter Link posted a drop in like for like cake sales of 3.3 per cent as consumers switched to alternative summer products.
But the company, who are the UK's largest maker of mince pies, said that Christmas orders were already in line with expectations for strong profits at the end of the year.
In addition, the group's Polish division, Cukiernia Mistra Jane (CJM), has been performing well - contributing £6.3m (€9.1) to the company's July results and rolling out 14 new products in the year - further strengthening Inter Link's position in the European market.
Executive chairman Alwin Thomspon said: "We continue our investment in new product development, the life blood of our business, and in new people who bring experience, knowledge and new skills to drive the business forward.
Present indications are that our results for the current financial year will be in line with market expectations and I am confident that we can look forward to another successful year."
As part of a move towards consolidation at all company bakeries, Inter Link moved to a new distribution centre last month and expect the site to be operational by October.
To meet demand for its core product, Soreen malt loaf, the company has opened a new 30,000 sq ft plant in Manchester, England and expects to double production of the loaf.
Also in the pipeline is another bakery, due to open spring of next year. Specifically for pudding production, the new site will allow the company to enter the year-round pudding market under the Mrs Peeks brand.
