North East chip shop supplies firm Henry Colbeck saw operating profits more than treble last year thanks to high levels of demand.
The Gateshead-based business, which employs about 150 people, reported operating profit of £2.07m in the year to the end of February 2022, up from £582,970 in 2021, as turnover grew 37% to £70.09m. Directors described the performance as exceptional owing to a significant ramping up of demand following the end of pandemic restrictions in spring 2021.
In accounts filed at Companies House, Henry Colbeck said it had seen growth across all of its divisions, which also provide used cooking oil collection and recycling services in addition to the frozen fish, drinks and cleaning products supplied into fish and chip shops, Chinese and Indian takeaways. The family firm, where an employee trust has a minority stake, said Covid had continued to dog its supply chain throughout the 12 months and well publicised HGV driver shortages had also had an impact.
