Accounts for Albert Bartlett Holdings Limited, which runs the popular Albert Bartlett potato brand, reveal a 14% increase in turnover to GBP199.985m for the year up to May 31, 2020. Pre-tax profits were also up 13% to GBP9.408m, from GBP8.324m in the year before. The company also reports a 16% increase in sales within the UK to GBP191.166m, however export sales were down. Sales to Europe decreased by 13% to GBP1.952m, while sales to the rest of the world were down 22% to GBP8.761m.

In his report, the company’s director, Ronnie Bartlett, said the trading performance had been satisfactory. He said increased turnover was due to continued growth in the company’s core fresh and frozen businesses, as well as growth in its chilled potato products business, which launched in 2018.

“Further investment was also committed by May 31, 2020 which again adds new product lines to our chilled offering as well as further capacity for existing lines,” added Bartlett. “This further extension was completed after the year end and new coated, formed products were successfully launched in September 2020.”

He said the international business had pulled back volumes in the last year due to “challenging trading conditions” however the Scotty Brand division, which includes soft fruit, salmon and bacon, continued to innovate and bring new products to the market.

Bartlett said the Covid-19 crisis had presented a number of significant challenges to the business. “While sales performance of our company has been robust during this period, in common with other food suppliers, we rapidly had to adapt our production sites to keep all our employees safe while still playing our part in ensuring continuity of food supply,” he added. “We did feel the negative impact of the lockdown in the retail sector via a drop in sales to the food service sector. Along with the rest of the industry we continue to monitor ongoing performance and adapt our business accordingly.”