Profits arising from the £20.5 million (€26 million) sale of Green Isle's foodservice and frozen food distribution business to IAWS Group in June played a major part in lifting first-half profits of the Northern Foods combine chaired by Lord Haskins.

Pre-tax profits rose from £30 million sterling (€50 million) to £50 million after the inclusion of exceptional gains of £12.6 million from the Green Isle disposal. Lord Haskins said the group had made "a good start to the second half".

Although annual turnover of the group's Irish activities is now running around £150 million, the figure will increase significantly due to the strong growth being achieved by Green Isle.