Egg ready to hatch profits

INTERNET bank Egg said its UK business was now "sustainably profitable" as it showed it had cut group losses in the past year. Pre-tax losses for the year to December 31 reduced to £87.8m, against £155.3m the year before, while income more than doubled to £189.4m. Chief executive Paul Gratton said: "We have fulfilled our published commitments at time of flotation to bring the UK business into profitability during the fourth quarter of the year and we are confident that our UK business is now sustainably profitable." Founder Prudential owns 79 per cent of the firm. Egg's figures showed customer numbers increased to 1.95 million at the year end, up 600,000 during the year.

JACUZZI STORE: The Bathroom Studio in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough has become the first solus Jacuzzi- designed showroom in the country following a £150,000 investment in the premises. Jim Mongan, chairman of the Bathroom Studio, said: "Jacuzzi UK has worked with us to create an amazing new design led showroom."

WAREHOUSE WIN: Staff at Lingfield Warehousing, in McMullen Road, Darlington, are celebrating two awards. They achieved ISO 9001:200 accreditation for quality, and also HM Customs and Excise approval as a Type A customs bonded warehouse.

SWEET DEAL: Sweets and chocolate maker Thorntons is to supply six chocolate bar lines to supermarket chain Tesco. Shoppers will be able to choose from flavours including marzipan, fudge, Viennese truffle and Sicilian lemon mousse.