Blackburn Rovers’ owners have announced a substantial rise in financial growth for their Indian-based business.

Venky’s India saw sales jump by 21per cent to £120million (Rupees 8.62bn) this year.

The profits also rose to just over £10million.

And the firm is expected to grow by 10per cent next year, joint managing director Venkatesh Rao said.

The company, which specialises in poultry and pharmaceuticals, announ-ced its latest results for the end of the financial year.

Mr Rao, whose family bought Rovers in November, said the company was facing increased costs, but was thriving.

He said: “There is steady growth this year, though things were not so good and the raw mat-erial was expensive.

“Within our business, if you see poultry products, animal health products and the oil seeds, everything has stabilised and they are doing good.

“Though there is growth, there is a shortage of maize and main raw material.

"But I think, a 10per cent growth in the poultry industry should be there and bottom line also should be growing at 8per cent.”

When the Rao family took control of Rovers they said they hoped that owning a Premier League football club would raise the profile of the business.

Venky’s India just includes the business in that country.

The ownership of Blackburn Rovers is held in a separate company, called Venky’s London. Venky’s is run by chairman Anuradha Desai and her brothers Venkatesh and Balaji Rao.