Wiseman Dairies reports recovery

Robert Wiseman Dairies warned profits were still low

Dairies firm Robert Wiseman said it has been heading in the right direction after price rises boosted margins.

The East Kilbride-based group, which has contracts with Tesco, Sainsbury's and Somerfield, posted a 40% rise in half-year operating profits to £17.5m

Higher prices offset a 9% hike in expenses, including oil-related costs, of £59.2m.

Wiseman warned profitability levels were still some way short of levels achieved in previous years.

Chief executive Robert Wiseman said: "Following a difficult period which included major supermarket contract changes and exceptional inflationary costs, the group has demonstrated that margins are slowly recovering and that we are heading in the right direction."