RHM, the makers of Hovis, Mr Kipling and Bisto is expected to announce half-year pre-tax profits of £70m for the six months to October 29, up 7% on the same period last year.

It will announce its full interim results on December 14, but said that sales remained flat, as despite growth in market share for its Hovis bread brand, sales of cakes had been poor.

RHM said that good results for its Manor Bakeries, Mr Kipling and Cadbury’s Cake relaunches in the last financial year had not been sustained. Overall RHM’s cake sales are expected to be down 12%.