Aga keeps profits boiling as Irish sales boost profits

Stove maker Aga Foodservice said today it banked record profits as more of its classic cookers were snapped up by customers from abroad.

The Birmingham-based company was not deterred by a slowdown in the UK consumer market and enjoyed a strong performance in Ireland, France and America.

Its half-year pre-tax profits to June 30 increased 11% to £20m (€29.4m) with 18% of sales of the group's Rangemaster now outside the UK – compared to 13% last year.

Aga-branded cookers experienced a similar boost with 2,300 of the stoves sold in other countries from total sales of 6,500 during the six-month spell.

Revenues were up to £273.3m (€402m) from £225.4m (€332m) during the same period last year, with the company expecting overseas cooker demand to continue.

The group said: “Aga and Rangemaster are now well established forces in the premium appliance market and the combination of international expansion, product innovation and strong routes to market all helped drive growth. Even against a slow UK consumer backdrop, record profits were achieved.”