Ghostbusters cakes help sales rise for baker Finsbury Food Group

Celebration: Cakes featuring Ghostbusters and emoji designs have helped sales jump at Finsbury Food Group

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Joanna Hodgson19 September 2016

Finsbury Food Group has sent a smiley emoji to Pokémon and Ghostbusters fans, who helped to boost annual sales at the bakery giant.

Boss John Duffy said that cakes branded with their characters had replaced Disney’s Frozen among its best-sellers as the supermarket supplier reported revenues rose 24.8% to £319.7 million in the year to July 2.

Duffy said: “Children become obsessive about new popular characters and we have responded to that with more products such as emoji cakes.”

The company also noted growth in its artisan breads division.

Pre-tax profit edged up to £11.8 million from £8.5 million the year before.

Finsbury Food Group said it will suffer the impact of the weaker post-Brexit pound, as well as new National Living Wage costs. But Duffy stressed that the firm is well placed to cope.

Broker Cenkos said: “Finsbury has proved to be a resilient performer operating in challenging markets.” Shares rose 1.5p, or 1.1%, to 137p.