Crisps maker aims to beat crunch as company targets sales record.

LIVERPOOL-BORN John Tague is on course to realise his ambition of trebling sales of Bradford-based Seabrook Crisps since he joined the company two years ago.

Managing director Mr Tague, who still lives in Liverpool, has driven revenues up 65%, the highest in the company's 64-year history, with a pounds 31m turnover forecast for the next 12 months despite a recession.

He believes the secret, apart from adding more than 5,000 national stockists, fed by a pounds 4m investment in new production lines, is in providing value for money for customers.

He said: "Shoppers are watching the pennies, now more than ever.

"They don't want to compromise on brand value, and they know - or are realising - that Seabrook offers the high quality you would expect from a major crisp brand, but at a price that's closer to own label products."

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Picture: JAMES GLOSSOP