Food manufacturer Avara Foods saw a strong increase in sales and pre-tax profits for the year ended 31st May 2020, despite spending £6 million on social distancing measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company reported a year-on-year increase of 5% in turnover and a £2 million increase in earnings before tax in its second full year of trading.

Avara also revealed it spent £6 million on social distancing measures, new PPE and staff recognition payments during the pandemic, as well as continued absence pay so colleagues could refrain from work if unwell or required to isolate.

It added that significant one-off costs were incurred following the closure of the company’s duck operations in April 2020.

The results were published in the company’s annual report and financial statement for 2020, and Andy Dawkins, chief executive officer at Avara Foods, commented: “Despite the challenges 2020 presented, our plans remained on-track and we have delivered more value to customers than ever before – a real credit to all those who work at Avara.

“In the face of Covid-19, we invested heavily to protect the wellbeing of every single colleague and to ensure the business was stable and resilient. I’m proud by how we have continued to manufacture great products, maintained our high standards and strengthened our customer relationships in these most difficult of times.”