Craft Week close

Don’t forget National Craft Bakers’ Week kicks off on Saturday 19 September, so make sure you’ve got all your special point-of-sale material ready, and are geared up to show consumers all that you can offer in your shops. A PR Toolkit and poster promoting A Big Taste, the NCBW sampling event, are in this issue of BB.

Hovis toasts new line

Hovis has relaunched its toasting range, with new packaging and recipes. Its Thick Crumpets, Soft white Muffins, Scotch Pancakes, and Fruity Teacakes, will also feature new packaging, while the teacakes and crumpets, will be made to a new recipe to "improve softness and taste".

Thorntons sees loss

Thorntons, the high street chocolatier, has marked its centenary year with record sales figures, but posted a loss of £1.1m after it was hit by £5.4m in impairment charges, such as high rents. Revenues increased by 1.7% to £218.3m in the year to 25 June. Pre-tax profits dropped to £4.3m from £6.9m.

Morrisons profits

Morrisons has posted a strong set of results for the half year to 31 July 2011. Turnover was up 7.4% to £8.7bn, with underlying profit up 8% to £442m. The supermarket said its promotional offers such as bread and milk for 50p had been "extremely popular".