Financial digest, 28 May 2012: Dairy Crest, M&S, Campbell's

Shaun Weston28 May 2012

The latest financial news for 28 May 2012 includes Eckes-Granini, Dairy Crest, Treatt, Campbell Soup Company and Marks & Spencer.

Eckes-Granini

The Eckes-Granini Group GmbH closed business year 2011 (ending on 31 Dec) with slight gains in turnover and volume sales.

In a fruit beverage market characterised by declining volume sales (- 2.4%) and rising (+ 4.6%) turnover (data from 14 core countries, retail food trade), the Eckes-Granini Group maintained a nearly constant market share of 11.8% in 2011 (2010: 12.0%) and remained among the leading fruit juice producers in Europe.

Net turnover rose from 2010 by 4.3% to €888m (2010: €852m). In its core market for fruit beverages (excluding bottled water distribution in Hungary), the Group recorded a 4.6% gain in turnover to €870m (2010: €831m). Total volume sales also rose by 1.1% to 1.072 billion litres overall and by 2.0% to 958 million litres (2010: 939 million litres) in the core fruit beverage market.

Dairy Crest

Dairy Crest has slumped to a £10.1m loss after an 'unsatisfactory' year at its milk division. Its flagship supermarket food brands grew sales by 11% in the year to 31 March, but the dairies arm saw profits cut by more than half to £10.2m.

With Dairy Crest slashing the value of the dairy business and taking a charge for the closure of two bottling plants, the company plunged to a bottom-line loss from a profit of £77.8m a year earlier. Stripping out one-off factors, adjusted profits were flat at £87.4m.

Treatt

Treatt PLC announced its half-year results for the six months ended 31 March 2012.

  • Group revenue increased by 1% to £36.0m (2011: £35.8m).
  • Ebitda stands at £2.4m (2011: £4.5m).
  • Profit before tax for the period was £1.6m (2011: £3.7m).
  • Half-year PBT in line with 2009 (£1.4m) and 2010 (£1.5m).
  • Interim dividend raised by 6% to 5.1p (2011 interim dividend: 4.8p).

Campbell Soup Company

Campbell Soup Company has reported its results for the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

  • Sales even at $1.8bn. Excluding currency, sales increased 1%.
  • Sales gains in global baking and snacking and US beverages, offset by declines in US simple meals and international simple meals and beverages.
  • Adjusted EBIT declined 13%.
  • EPS benefited from a lower tax rate.
  • Confirmed fiscal 2012 guidance: sales and adjusted EBIT at lower end of range, adjusted EPS at upper end of range.

Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer performed well in a 'challenging economic environment' and made 'good progress' in delivering its strategy.

  • Group sales up 2.0% at £9.9bn.
  • Total UK sales +1.5%: Food +3.9%; General Merchandise -0.9% (Clothing +0.2%, Home -10.0%).
  • Like-for-like UK sales +0.3%: Food +2.1%; General Merchandise -1.8%.
  • International sales +5.8%.
  • Multi-channel sales +18%.
  • Underlying profit before tax £705.9m (last year £714.3m).
  • Underlying basic earnings per share 34.9p (last year 34.8p).
  • Full year dividend 17.0p per share (last year 17.0p).
  • Net debt £1.86bn (last year £1.90bn).

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