Cook helped to record by ‘Stress free’ Christmas

UPMARKET frozen-meals maker Cook served up record profits last year thanks to the success of a new Thai range and “stress-free” Christmas lunches.

The Kent-based group bounced back from a slow start to the year to increase annual sales and profits by double digits, underscored by a “fantastic” Christmas period.

A £32 Christmas day lunch for two, which includes turkey breast with handmade stuffing, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, sprouts, pigs in blankets, and gravy, helped boost like-for-like festive sales by 9.1% alone.

Thai curries and lower calories options drove sales in the rest of the year, which ended in March.

“It’s no secret the grocery market is tougher than ever but every year we manage to pull a rabbit out of the hat, or a frozen turkey, or a green Thai chicken curry,” Cook co-founder and chief executive Edward Perry said.

Sales rose 14% to £45 million, with online sales up 50% to £4.4 million. Pre-tax profits leapt 17% to £2.7 million.