BIRKENHEAD financial services to Christmas hampers group Park has enjoyed an “excellent” six months, revealed chairman and founder Peter Johnson.

Total sales in the period to September 30 soared by 49% to £50.91m and pre-tax profits from continuing operations came in at £541,000 compared with a loss of £4.17m.

The first six months of Park’s year is traditionally loss making due to the seasonal nature of its Christmas hampers operation.

A 51% jump in its corporate voucher sales and better savings levels for its hampers helped achieve today’s encouraging levels.

The hampers business saw sales rise 37% to £5.8m during the six months after a 9% increase in orders.

Park’s army of Christmas hamper agents grew from 109,000 to 110,000 for this year and customer numbers expanded from 400,000 to 410,000. Average order values also grew, from £375 last year to £401.

The group also revealed growth in its online portal which allows overseas customers to place orders for delivery to UK-based friends and family.

The gift voucher business continues to expand and will benefit in the second half from the recent £800,000 acquisition of Dublin-based Celtic Hampers and Family Hampers which opens up the Republic of Ireland to Park’s vouchers operation.

“We do not expect the current turbulence in the Irish economy to affect the prospects of the acquired business,” the company said.

In June the company launched its pre-paid flexecash card which can be offered by companies as a staff incentive or over the counter as an ‘electronic’ gift voucher.

By the end of September Park had supplied 51 corporate customers to a total value of £500,000. Since then sales have soared and currently £14m-worth of cards have been sold.

Mr Johnson said: “The early indications are very encouraging and justify the substantial development cost, meticulous planning and preparation involved in delivering this innovative product.”

He added: “The strong performance of the first half is being maintained with both the Christmas savings and corporate businesses trading ahead of last year.

“The company is well positioned to move ahead strongly, benefiting from its innovative and attractive product ranges coupled with the exciting opportunities offered by flexecash, the new prepaid card.”

A £1.8m cash receipt was also achieved on the sale of Park’s Dock Road North site to a housebuilder at the end of September.

Managing director Chris Houghton said Park's business had grown during the recession as people looked to put money aside to ensure they could buy Christmas presents.

He said: "People are being more organised and putting money down for the festive season."

Mr Houghton said most of Park's customers got their hampers before this month's snowstorms hit.

He said: "We had some hampers in limbo in Scotland, but they’ve started moving again. The snow slowed us down, but it won’t stop us."