Toy maker Hornby (LON:HRN) has secured a worlwide licence for a range of new Star Wars Scalextric products as it told investors the firm was in 'great shape'.
Speaking of the new licence wins, CEO Frank Martin said: "As the films are converted into 3D format by Lucasfilm over the next few years, we anticipate that we will get an encouraging reaction to our new range of speeder bikes and X-wing fighters."
The chief executive also said he had high hopes for products associated with the new Disney/Pixar movie "Cars2" and that the company had secured the exclusive worldwide Master Toy licence rights to a new children's animated TV series 'Olly the Little White Van' - soon to be launched on ITV.
The firm released its results for the year to 31 March 2011, in which it said turnover was down 1 percent to £63.4 million compared to £63.9million in 2010.
Reported pre-tax profit fell to £4.1million compared to £5.2million the previous year, it added.
The firm said the result was negatively impacted by its largest supplier in China , which failed to meet product supply needs and the harsh weather across the UK in December.
"Whilst demand for our products has remained strong across all our major markets, supply chain issues have constrained our sales," said Hornby in the statement.
"We have taken steps with our largest supplier and with new suppliers to address this issue which has resulted in improvement in supplies in recent months."
The company added that product sales for the 2012 London Olympics were gathering momentum and described the firm's involevement as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" which will have long term benefits in respect of distribution and product category diversification.
"Beginning with the theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 2012, Lucasfilm will convert the series of six Star Wars movies into 3D format.
"We believe that our association with this powerful franchise will drive incremental Scalextric sales for many years to come, particularly in the USA," it added.
Investors cheered the news and Hornby shares were up 10.92percent in early deals, changing hands at 132 pence.