ARBROATH marmalade and preserves maker Mackays achieved a rise in turnover last year as exports jumped, but pre-tax profits dipped, its latest accounts show.

Mackays, which also makes curds and chutney, achieved a rise in turnover to £18.6m in the year to December 31, 2016, from £17.4m in 2015.

UK sales at the company, which sells under the Mrs Bridges as well as the Mackays brand, were flat at £12.8m in 2016. Exports totalled £5.77m last year, up by 24 per cent from £4.64m in the prior 12 months.

Pre-tax profits dipped from £865,915 to £654,377.

In their strategic report, the directors of Mackays say they are “pleased” with the revenue growth, which was faster than in 2015.

They add: “International sales grew to 31 per cent of turnover, showing growth of 24 per cent over 2015. This confirmed the comment made in the 2015 report that early indications in 2016 showed growth returning in these markets.”

The directors declare that the company’s brands are “at the heart of the business and, indeed, profitability”.

They say the Mackays brand continues to develop in home and international markets, highlighting the board’s “great emphasis” on this. The directors express confidence the Mrs Bridges brand “will continue to hold a market-leading position in the retail channels supplied”.

The accounts show Mackays’s average monthly number of employees was 157 during 2016, down from 176 in the prior year.