THE maker of packaging for Jaffa Cakes and Fruit Pastilles today said it was on course to improve profits, despite pressure on the business from rising costs.

Robinson, which has 400 staff, also manufactures packaging for products such as Gillette shaving foam.

Robinson has had to cope with a 12 per cent increase in plastic resin costs compared with a year ago, as well as a jump of more than 50 per cent in electricity prices. But it showed a £20,000 profit after tax in the six months to June 30, compared with a £151,000 loss last year, after cutting manufacturing expenses and passing on increased costs.

Robinson's clients include Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Cadbury and Goodfella's pizza maker Northern Foods.