Home-shopping and educational supplies company Findel Plc has posted record results today despite a challenging retail environment.

The Burley-in-Wharfedale company recorded a turnover of £527.8 million in 2006 an 11 per cent rise on the previous year's figure of £474 million.

Pre-tax profits were up by £6.6 million a rise of 14 per cent on 2005.

Findel bosses believe their continued success has been underpinned by a strong performance from the group's education division which saw its sales figures rise by 40 per cent from £163.5 million to £228.3 million.

However, the company's home shopping sector saw a downturn in turnover, with its figures down four per cent from £239.1 million to £228 million.

Chairman Keith Chapman, said: "The company has enjoyed another record year, with excellent growth in our headline figures.

"This was achieved despite the challenging retail environment that our home shopping division experienced last Autumn.

"We have seen excellent results, in particular at our educational supplies division, where we are now seeing the rewards of our restructuring programme coming through."

Findel also saw its internet sales post a record rise of 31 per cent.

Mr Chapman said he believed a £16.1 million investment in the restructuring of the educational supplies division would be recovered by the end of the current financial year.

Findel trades via three divisions home shopping, education and Findel services.

For more than 40 years it has been a leader in home shopping through mail order catalogues and educational supplies to the majority of UK schools.

Express Gifts, the company's home shopping division, has 1.6 million customers in the UK, and accounts for 50 per cent of the group's turnover.

Findel Education is the largest dedicated supplier of educational products in Europe, with warehouses throughout England.

The company today appointed Patrick Jolly as chief executive and Philip Maudsley as chief operating officer. Both were promoted to the roles from within the company.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk