Northern Foods has reported a difficult third quarter but an increase in margins from the previous year.
The company's trading statement said that its chilled business delivered further steady growth, with revenue up eight per cent in the year to date.
However growth in pizza and frozen pastry sales slowed. The bakery division saw a growth of one per cent in the third quarter but revenue is currently 4.9 per cent lower than the previous year.
As part of the disposal programme Northern Foods, which owns brands such as Goodfellas, Fox Biscuits and Dalepak, sold off 40 per cent of the company for more than £200 million in November.
Pat O'Driscoll, chief executive officer of the Leeds-based manufacturer, said: "Christmas operational delivery was robust. We have seen the successful completion of our disposal programme, achieving our targeted value within our planned timescales, and we can now focus on growing value in our core business."
The majority of the company's sales are directly to the country's four major supermarket chains, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons.
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