Aga predicts hot sales of new fryer

Aga foodservice, the cooker maker, is hoping that its "revolutionary" new deep-fat fryer will do for the fast food industry what its cast iron stoves have done for the chattering classes.

Aga foodservice, the cooker maker, is hoping that its "revolutionary" new deep-fat fryer will do for the fast food industry what its cast iron stoves have done for the chattering classes.

The group, which owns the Fired Earth tiles brand, has launched a fryer that uses one-third less oil than conventional fryers. William McGrath, the chief executive, said the new technology would "halve the running costs" for fast food chains. In addition to using less oil, better filtration means they will not have to change the oil so frequently, he added.

The company has already signed a deal with Whitbread, which owns Beefeater, Pizza Hut and TGI Friday, and hopes to sign up at least one of the big three fast food chains - McDonald's, Burger King or KFC - by the end of the year.

Mr McGrath said that while initial sales of the Infinity Fryer had yet to have an impact on the group's numbers, he predicted the fryer would "have an appreciable effect" on Aga's bottom line going forward. "I'm confident that in two to three years' time the fryer will play the same anchor role in our food services arm as Aga does in our core business," he said.

He was speaking as Aga, which received the go-ahead to acquire a French rival, Pavailler, this week, reported an 8 per cent rise in interim profit before tax to £12.7m. Demand for its Aga and Rangemaster cookers was strong in the UK, with both achieving double-digit underlying sales growth. Like-for-likes sales of Fired Earth's tiles and paint products rose 7 per cent, the company said.

Mr McGrath said the outlook for the business was good. "Higher interests have taken the sting out of house price inflation, leaving people with more money to spend on their interiors and kitchens," he said.