Aga cooks up steady sales growth

Aga ovens have proved a hit

Oven maker Aga has turned in higher sales and profits, crediting strong demand for its upmarket cookers.

The Solihull-based firm said pre-tax profits for the six months to late June came in at £12.7m, a 7.6% increase on the same period last year.

Sales for the first half rose to £204.4m, a 10% increase on the year.

Aga added that it had continued to do brisk business since the end of June, and that it had a strong order book for the autumn months.

"We have confidence that 2004 will prove a good year for the group," said chief executive William McGrath.

Aga said international demand for upmarket cooking appliances was growing strongly.

The company added that its foodservice division - which sells refrigerators and cookers to restaurants - was poised to benefit from a pick-up in investment in the catering trade.

Aga has positioned its retro-styled cookers as an upmarket lifestyle product, helped by accolades from celebrity customers including TV chef Jamie Oliver.

Last year, it sold 10,000 of its cookers, which retail at about £4,000 ($7,200) each in the UK.

Aga shares were up 2p at 230p in early trade in London.