Talk of deals is never far from SSL International. But could the company – best known for its Durex and Scholl brands and often mentioned as a takeover target for bigger consumer goods companies – be moving from prey to predator?

Tuesday’s trading update continued the improvement at the company, with like-for-like sales in the first half of the year said to have risen 9 per cent due to a good performance from Durex-branded condoms and new products for the Scholl footcare range.