A SURGE in demand for salads during last year's hot summer helped Northern Foods boost annual profits by 21 per cent, the group revealed today.

The company, which employs 300 people at its base in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, revealed a nine per cent jump in the growth of its salad business, helping to drive up profits from £33m to £40m.

However, the brand - which also makes Goodfella's pizzas and Fox's biscuits - said its key biscuit business was still struggling with a falling market share and higher input costs affecting its performance.