Niche food group Glisten has posted a 9.8% rise in full-year turnover to June and said its acquisition strategy is to focus on the confectionery, snacking and ingredients sectors.

Formed last year by Paul Simmonds, former chief executive of Hibernia Foods UK, and Jeremy Hamer, who remains chairman of Inter Link Foods, Glisten said sales at its confectionery business increased to £14.3m from £13m in 2001.

Simmonds said the group has expanded its UK sales force and gained further distribution rights in Europe for the SunMaid brand of chocolate covered raisins. Glisten has also seen a 57% growth in its export business due to advances in North America and Scandanavia.

Hamer added that turnover in the first three months of the year is up 8% on last time and with “the order book full for christmas we can look forward to an excellent year”.