NETHERLANDS: Numico sees H1 profit jump

By: just-food.com | 3 August 2007

Dutch food group Royal Numico has posted a set of robust first-half results after sales accelerated during the second quarter.

Numico, which is set to be taken over by Groupe Danone, reported that underlying operating profit rose 13.6% to EUR268m (US$367m) during the first half of 2007.

Revenue rose 12.4% to EUR1.4bn after Numico booked sales growth of over 15% for the second quarter of the year.

The company's baby food business, which includes the Milupa and Cow & Gate brands, saw sales rise 11.5%. Turnover from its clinical nutrition business was up 14.8%.

CEO Jan Bennink said today (3 August) that the company is "on-track" to post its "third consecutive year of double-digit growth".

He added: "We have generated high-growth, high-margin results in the first half of 2007, while implementing price increases and cost-savings programs within a challenging raw material price environment."

Companies: Danone