Food firm calls for British support

Michael Clarke, chief executive of Premier Foods, which owns Hovis, Mr Kipling and Batchelors, said the Queen’s Diamond jubilee and London Olympics should be celebrated by supporting British jobs and buying products made in the UK.

Premier, which also owns Bisto, Ambrosia and Loyd Grossman, sources 80 per cent of its ingredients from Britain and will launch Mr Kipling British Fancies and Mini Classics to build on this theme.

South African-born Mr Clarke made his comments as Premier unveiled a 3.7 per cent rise in sales of its eight leading brands, which also include Oxo and Sharwoods, in the three months to March 31, compared to a 1.3 per cent rise in total group sales.