The sweltering weather has resulted in a bumper crop of ice cream on several farms around the country.

Food and drinks giant Nestle has posted a full-year net profit of 9.5bn Swiss francs (€7.9bn) that reflected stronger-than-expected sales growth of 7.5% - but it predicted a tough year ahead.

Kit-Kat to Haagen Dazs firm Nestle today turned in a weaker underlying performance for 2010 as soaring commodity prices ate into profit margins.

DALE FARM, the Northern Irish ice cream and dairy business, has expanded its interests in the Republic via the acquisition of ice cream distribution business, Superchill for an undisclosed sum.