Advertising and communications group DDFH&B made a profit of €2.8 million in 2014, down 4 per cent on the previous year, according to accounts recently filed at the Companies Office.

Group turnover, including its share of a joint venture, arrived at €25.7 million, down 1.6 per cent on 2013, while the group’s pretax profit for 2014 was just under €3.2 million. Gross client billings totalled €60.3 million.

“The directors expect the company to remain profitable and to grow current levels of profitability in 2015,” a note in the accounts states.

DDFH&B, the creative advertising agency at the heart of the group of the same name, counts SuperValu, Fáilte Ireland, the National Lottery, Brennan's Bread, Eir, Littlewoods Ireland and Irish Life among its clients.

The group was founded by Jim Donnelly, who retains a controlling interest, with JWT London, part of advertising giant WPP, holding a minority share.

Among its interests, it has an 80 per cent holding in marketing company Goosebump, 51 per cent in public relations firm the Reputations Agency and 50 per cent in media-buying agency Mindshare Media (Ireland).

The group, run by chief executive Miriam Hughes, employed an average of 132 people last year, up from 116 in 2013.