LONDON: Cake Box Holdings plc (CBOX.L), the UK’s largest retailer of fresh cream celebration cakes, reported a 17.1% rise in underlying EBITDA to £8.73 million for the year ended 30 March 2025, driven by strong franchisee performance and growth in online sales.
The company’s gross margin edged down to 52.5% from 52.7% a year earlier as it absorbed input cost inflation. It declared a full-year dividend of 10.2 pence per share, up 13.3% year-on-year.
Net debt stood at £9.0 million, compared with a net cash position of £7.3 million in 2024, following its £22 million acquisition of Ambala Foods Limited, a UK-based Asian sweets manufacturer and retailer with 22 outlets.
Cake Box added 26 new franchise stores, bringing its UK total to 251. Online sales climbed 19% to £19.1 million, boosted by digital marketing and new e-commerce capabilities. Product innovation included a Nutella range in partnership with Ferrero UK and themed offerings tied to festive occasions.
CEO Sukh Chamdal said the group entered the current financial year with trading momentum in line with market expectations and is progressing well with the Ambala integration. “We remain dedicated to growth, innovation, and solidifying our position,” he added.