UK ice cream maker Richmond Foods has reported a pre-tax loss of £200,000 (US$0.32m) for the six months to end-March, compared to a loss of £1.7m in the year-ago period.

The company, which makes Nestlé branded ice creams as well as own-label ice creams for supermarkets, said its sales slid to £42.2m from £42.5m, reported the Financial Times.

James Lambert, chief executive of Richmond Foods, said the company was investing in equipment to enable it to produce more elaborate choc ices.