Half-year profits have grown at Canadian food and drink group Lassonde Industries after a second quarter of higher earnings.

The soup and sauces maker booked net profit of C$17.2m (US$16.7m) for the six months to the end of June, up from C$16.2m a year earlier. Second-quarter profits were up 7.5% at C$11.4m.

One-off gains from foreign exchange and interest rate swaps helped Lassonde’s bottom line. Lassonde said its operating profit for the first half of the year dipped from C$34m to C$33m. 

Nevertheless, sales increased 1.9% to C$499.1m. Lassonde said it “remains optimistic” about being able to “slightly increase” its sales in 2013.