BLACKBURN-based confectionery group Glisten has reported a rise in first-half pre-tax profit as it looks forward to "an excellent

third year".

Glisten -- which makes chocolate and sugar-based confectionery -- had pre-tax profit of £1.16 million in the six months to December 31, 2004, from £950,000 a year earlier, while sales rose to £14.2million from £9.4 million previously.

Paul Simmonds, Glisten's chief executive, said: "We are very pleased with the latest results, which are in line with expectations and obviously reflect some of our recent acquisitions.

"But these results don't show our acquisition of Halo Foods, which we made in December, and which doubled the size of the group.

"That is yet to come and should really show through over the next year in our financial results."

Like-for-like sales in the first two months of the second half were up 11 per cent from the same period a year earlier.

Mr Simmonds did not rule out further acquisitions for Glisten.

He added: "We are consistently thinking about how to expand the group so I would not rule anything out."

Chairman Jeremy Hamer said: "We remain determined to deliver strong organic growth through our acquired businesses, together with further strategic acquisitions." Glisten plc was formed in October 2001 to build a food manufacturing group focusing on niche sectors.

Glisten serves a wide variety of customers including many high street retailers and major food manufacturers.

Products include chocolate coated raisins, peanuts and brazil nuts as well as mint imperials, popcorn, mini-eggs and sugar-coated almonds.

In December 2004 Glisten acquired cereal bar company Halo Foods, more than doubling the sales of the existing group.

Glisten Plc now employs 700 people across its five manufacturing sites supplying the UK and 23 other countries around the globe.