Richmond Foods has held on to the title of Britain's largest ice cream maker, after beating the winter blues for a second consecutive year.

The group, based near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, posted pre-tax profits of £1.86m for the half-year ending in March.

The results are ten per cent lower than last year's £2.07m, but it is only the second time the company has finished the winter in the black.

The group, which makes Nestl ices, such as Smarties and Kit Kat, remains in pole position in the sector.

It is slightly ahead of its main rival, Walls, following the introduction of the low fat Skinny Cow brand and a strong promotional campaign for take-home supermarket tubs.

Retail market share rose from 31 per cent, 12 months ago, to 34 per cent, compared to Walls' 32 per cent.

James Lambert, chief executive, said: "When we started out 15 years ago, Walls had a 45 per cent market share and we had none.

"We will keep going and aim to increase our share."

Richmond employs about 950 people at three UK sites, at Leeming Bar, near Northallerton, which is Europe's largest ice cream plant, Crossgates, near Leeds, and at Wigan.

The company, which also makes its own brand ice cream, attributed the slight fall in profits to costs incurred at the former De Roma factory, in Wigan.

Richmond took on the plant in February last year.