UK convenience food group Uniq returned to sales growth in the fourth-quarter as a result of new business won and said it delivered an operating performance in line with expectations.
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Following disposal of the firm’s French, German, Polish and Dutch business units, the group is now a wholly UK focused business serving two market sectors – desserts and food-to-go.
In the 13 weeks to 26 December, the UK business returned to sales growth in both principal market sectors as a result of new business won, with overall sales growth of 4%.
Sales growth in the firm’s desserts division edged up 0.4%, reversing a decline in the previous two quarters. Food-to-go sales were up 11.5% in the final quarter.
Underlying sales recovered “significantly”, Uniq said, compared with the first half as consumers responded well to changes in its product range.
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By GlobalDataDuring the quarter, the firm’s Northampton business benefited from the a new sandwich contract with M&S. Uniq’s Spalding factory also launched GBP12m (US$19.6m) of annualised new business with The Cooperative.
The board said it expects to report an operating profit for 2009 in line with its expectations.
“The strategy to focus the business solely on the UK has now been completed. The improvement evident in the final two quarters of 2009 is encouraging and is expected to continue into 2010 despite the tough market environment, although the first 3 weeks of 2010 have naturally been adversely affected by the weather,” the firm said.
