Aga in cool £3m Wembley deal

COOKERS-to-wall tiles group Aga Foodservice expects to make £3m providing refrigerators for the enormous catering operations at the new Wembley stadium. The company's Williams division has begun installing about 500 fridges and 50 cold rooms at the vast venue.

News of the prestigious contract came as Aga also reported strong profit growth at its consumer division, which includes Aga and Rangemaster cookers plus a growing list of brands from Continental takeovers.

The acquisition spree will result in the prestigious La Cornue oven brand in France entering Britain in a big way. Retailing at about £3,500, the ovens will be marketed heavily here this year.

But Aga chief executive William McGrath admitted: 'There is anxiety about UK consumer confidence and at some point it will slow down, but we have made moves to counter that.' This included Aga's expansion into France and North America and its strong line of commercial products.

Pre-tax profits in the year to 31 December were up 10% on the year at £30.6m on sales up 11% at £435m. The total dividend is 8.3p against 7.2p last year.