ONE of North Yorkshire's most widely known family companies Bettys & Taylors Group has reported a five per cent rise in sales to £156 million.

The Harrogate based firm, which operates the Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms and Yorkshire Tea brand, has reported pre-tax profits of £10.8 million in its latest financial results, for the year ending October 31, 2014.

The company, which runs cafes in York's St Helen's Square and Stonegate, said the positive performance follows a year of strong sales and growth across the two businesses.

Group finance and resources director Paul Cogan, said: "We are pleased that we have been able to deliver strong results in what is an increasingly competitive market.

"At Bettys & Taylors we continually strive to find new and innovative ways to delight our customers and to share with them our genuine passion for delivering high quality products that reflect our Yorkshire heritage."

The family owned Group, which dates back to 1919, is made up of family tea and coffee merchant Taylors of Harrogate, six Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Bettys Online Shop, Craft Bakery and Bettys Cookery School.

During the financial year Bettys opened its Research & Development facility, built at the Bettys Bakery to further drive capacity for innovation and new product development for the Bettys by Post online service, Cafe Tea Rooms and shops. To date more than 80 new or improved products have been created.

Bettys Bakery rounded off 2014 by winning Craft Business of the Year at the Baking Industry Awards in London.

Over the year, the Group contributed £411,000 to charitable and community projects in Yorkshire and in tea and coffee growing countries, and this year received the 2015 Sustainable Standard-Setter Award from the Rainforest Alliance at a ceremony in New York.

During the year the Quarterly staff bonus scheme saw employees receive the equivalent of an additional six weeks pay.