Concrete company Readymix has posted a significant jump in profits after it sold a disused quarry in Co Antrim.
The firm saw its profits surge 148 per cent to €32.3 million for 2005, boosted by the €20 million sale of the quarry. This compares with €13 million in 2004.
However, discounting the quarry sale, profits actually fell by 4.6 per cent, as rising costs and pressure from competition hit home.
Sales for the year that ended December 2005 came to €248.1 million, a slight increase on the €247.5 million seen in 2004.