Fresh from its £51 million takeover of Cuisine de France, foods group IAWS has turned in an excellent set of full-year results, comfortably ahead of market forecasts.

Pre-tax profits rose by 37 per cent to £25.3 million in the year to the end of July, while sales were ahead by 5 per cent to £581.8 million. The profits figure was distorted by an exceptional gain of £4 million on the sale of Lisburn Proteins, but even when this gain is excluded, the results came in ahead of forecasts. The shares were 1p higher on 258p. See page 2