Belgian bakery group Lotus Bakeries today (15 February) booked a jump in annual profits thanks to lower financial costs and a gain from the sale of its Harry’s Benelux business.

The group recorded a 24.8% rise in net profit to EUR25.2m (US$34.3m) for 2009 after financial costs fell by almost 60% and the company sold Harry’s to Italian group Barilla.

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Operating profit was up 3.1% at EUR34.3m; turnover rose 1.7% to EUR261.1m.

Lotus said the biscuit category in its major markets – including Belgium, the Netherlands and France – shrank in 2009.

However, the company insisted “intensive communication” and “increasing product quality” had maintained “confidence” in its brands.

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Lotus added that it expects further growth to come from its 2008 acquisition of Swedish biscuit maker Anna’s Pepparkakor Holding.

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“The integration of Anna’s is proceeding to plan and is of major importance as a potential source of further growth in North America and in the Nordic countries,” Lotus said.