Tyrrells Crisps has fought off growing competition in the premium crisp market to report another year of strong growth.

The company grew its sales by 35% to £29.8m in the year to 30 March, according to accounts filed at Companies House this week.

It attributed the growth to gains in distribution, successful product launches and the acquisition of vegetable crisp maker Glennans.

Winning new business with leading mults was instrumental, as even excluding the Glennans acquisition, Tyrrells sales climbed 26%.

Tyrrells returned to Tesco in September 2011 after a five-year absence during which former company owner Will Chase threatened to sue the retailer, alleging that it sold Tyrrells products via the grey market.

A deal to supply M&S with own-label crisps three months later provided a further boost.

Tyrrells also grew its international reach. Sales to mainland Europe increased 53% to £4.1m and rest of the world sales grew by the same margin to £900,000.

Some of the gains in distribution did come at a cost. “The operating profit for the period reflects increased promotional spend attached to wider supermarket distribution,” said Tyrrells.

However, it added that margins were boosted by efficiencies gained from running increased volumes through its crisp factory in Herefordshire.

Operating profits excluding exceptional items climbed almost 50% to £3.8m. Tyrrells made an exceptional gain of £1.7m from a claim related to a factory fire in April 2011.

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