LIVERPOOL food and agriculture group Edward Billington and Son is on course to beat the record year it achieved in 2010.

The group’s executive chairman, Lloyd Whiteley, who is a fifth-generation direct descendant of the eponymous founder, said it was “running well ahead of budget” after the first half of its 2011 financial year, which itself was set above last year’s figures.

Strong performances across the group in the year to August, 2010, saw pre-profits rise 37% to £8.8m, while sales grew slightly, up 2%, to £190.9m.

Its turnover does not include its American joint venture, Wholesome Sweeteners, which generated sales of £67.8m, 45% up on a year earlier. The venture was included in Billington’s turnover up until two years ago.

Billington employs 620 people across the group, with 45 based at its Liverpool head office. It was ranked 113th in LDP Business’s recent analysis of the North West’s top 200 largest companies.

The group, based in the Cunard Building, was founded in 1858, starting life as a sugar and coffee importer, but now has a range of interests, including animal feeds, biofuels and commodity trading.

Its five businesses are English Provender Company, Criddle & Co, Carrs Billington Agriculture and Billington Biofuels, as well as its American joint venture.