Own label, branded and licensed cake and pastry manufacturer, Inter Link Foods has bought Kent-based 'Hoppers' Farmhouse Bakeries for £5m.

Inter Link said Hoppers was "highly focussed towards Christmas trade" and and was only profitable in the second half of the calendar year with approximately 60% of annual sales in the period from September to December. Hoppers had sales of £12.5m to June 30, 2003.

The company also announced a deal with Disney for it to supply cartoon character-based products across its range, except large celebration cakes.

For the six months to October 31, Inter Link said pre-tax profit rose to £1.8m from £1.3m and sales jumped to £33.2m from £24.5m.