HOUSEHOLD electrical goods maker Alba said last night it hoped the Olympics would spur demand for its Carl Lewis brand of fitness equipment which recorded sales of £2.8m in the first year following its launch.

The company said it was hoping to create a higher global profile after annual profits surged to a record £31.1m.

It said it had significant structure for growth overseas after buying the consumer electronics business of German manufacturer Grundig in January.

It will add to the momentum provided by record turnover from its Alba, Bush and Goodmans brands in the UK, where sales grew by 15 per cent in the year to March 31.

Alba makes household electrical products ranging from TVs, DVD players, cameras and digital radios to kitchen appliances, microwaves, power tools and gym equipment.

It also makes telephone equipment under the Betacom, Answercall, Cable and Wireless and ntl brands.

The endorsement of ranges of household goods by celebrities was one reason why sales in the division were more than £150m this year compared with £135m last year.

As well as the Carl Lewis range, the Antony Worrall Thompson brand of kitchen products enjoyed a constantly expanding market, the com-pany said.