Strong demand for fresh prepared food in the UK and the continent helped Geest deliver double digit earnings and sales growth in the first half. Pre-tax profit rose 11% to £17.7m on sales up 18% to £329.1m for the 26 weeks to June 30. Chairman Ian Menzies-Gow said there was still "enormous growth" in the fresh prepared foods market. Geest is investing £65m this year on capital projects, including extra capacity for its bagged salads, pizza and ready meals operations and new bread and pasta making factories. New product ranges on the horizon include a major launch in early November with a multiple customer "which may create a brand new fresh prepared food category". Analysts said results this positive in a depressed sector were unusual. However Geest would not achieve the margins of own label rival Northern Foods unless it went for larger volume deals on goods manufactured more efficiently by automated lines. {{NEWS }}