WELCOME RESULTS
Welcome Break - the group that owns motorway service stations in memorable locations such as South Mimms, Keele and Membury - enjoyed a marked improvement in its financial performance last year.
The company, owned by the Bahrain-based private equity fund Investcorp, reported a 22pc jump in operating profits £23.8m. This on a 4pc rise in sales to £616m.
Boss Rod McKie said WB has invested heavily in tarting up the company's 24 roadside caffs.
The results look less impressive when £26.6m-worth of interest payments are factored into the mix, along with depreciation write-offs approaching £10m.
It left the company sitting on a £5.1m pretax loss, though this could be interpreted as progress, as the deficit for the year earlier was £14.7m.