Colman's Mustard owner Unilever has cheered a 'substantial step up in profitability' after fighting off a takeover bid.
The consumer goods giant has reported a 5.5% rise in turnover to €27.7bn with underlying sales growth of 3% in the first half of 2017.
It comes after the group, which has a site at Carrow Works, Norwich, rejected a £115bn offer from Kraft Heinz in February.
Chief executive Paul Polman said: 'Our first half results show continued growth well ahead of our markets and a substantial step-up in profitability despite the persisting volatile global trading environment.
'It once more shows the validity of Unilever's long-term compounding growth model.'
The foods division, which includes Colman's, saw underlying sales grow 0.6% with a turnover of €6.3bn for the first half of the year.
Unilever has warned that European consumer demand remains weak.
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