EARNINGS : Grand Met Profits Surge 25%

British food and beverages group Grand Metropolitan PLC said today its profits surged 25% last year, helped by a turnaround at its Burger King fast food division.

Pretax profits for the year ended Sept. 30 jumped to 919 million pounds ($1.76 billion) from 732 million pounds ($1.41 billion). Revenues edged up to 9.39 billion pounds ($18.12 billion) from 9.30 billion pounds ($17.95 billion).

Burger King, acquired as part of the $5.8-billion takeover of Minneapolis-based Pillsbury Co. two years ago, doubled its operating profits, to 125 million pounds ($249 million) from 76 million pounds ($150 million).

Burger King’s weak performance had been considered the key factor behind Pillsbury’s takeover, and skeptics believed it might also undermine Grand Met.