THE Strabane based hosiery and lingerie manufacturer, Adria, has announced pre-tax profits of £3.3 million sterling for the year to the end of March, unchanged from the previous year.

Turnover increased by £5 million to £53.6 million. Adria, a subsidiary of Charnos, employs over 1,600 people in three factories in at Strabane, Campsic, near Derry, and Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh. Earlier this year, the company announced that it was to build a fourth plant in Newry, creating a further 500

In its end of year statement, Adria's managing director, Dr Terry McCartney, said that 1995 had been a year of continued growth. The hot summer and mild autumn weather had affected sales in the hosiery market, but net sales had nevertheless increased by 11 per cent, he added.

The fact that profits had remained steady reflected the pressure to bold down retail prices, according to Dr McCartney. There had also been further start up costs in the expansion of the new lingerie facility.