The results announced this week included improving sales and profits at Yakult, better earnings but lower sales at US poultry group Pilgrim's Pride and growth at Mexican dairy processor Grupo Lala.
Yakult's Americas, Asia sales offset home slowdown
Japanese probiotics group Yakult booked higher first-quarter revenue and earnings, helped by sales in some overseas markets.
The company posted a 78.3% jump in net income to JPY7.94bn (US$640.7m) for the three months to the end of June. Operating income was up 71.1% at JPY10.1bn.
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By GlobalDataNet sales grew 7.5% to JPY92.89bn despite a 1.1% dip in domestic sales. Overseas, Yakult grew sales from its core food and beverages division by 15.4% to JPY36.1bn. Sales in Europe fell but growth in the Americas and from the joint Asia and Oceania division helped overall overseas sales increase.
J&J Snack Foods boosted by retail business
J&J Snack Foods has reported an increase in sales and earnings for the first nine months of the year driven by positive sales performances in the US group's retail segment.
For the nine months ended 27 June, net earnings increased to US$50.4m compared with $49.6m year-on-year. Operating income was 4% higher at $77.2m and sales were 8% up at $716.5m.
CEO Gerald Shreiber said retail supermarket performance was "outstanding" but its foodservice segment provided disappointing results.
Pilgrim's Pride H1 profits grow despite sales drop
US poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride has reported an increase in net income for the first half of the year despite a fall in sales.
Net income was up to US$445.8m versus $288.6m for the same period last year. Operating income increased to US$705.9m compared with $468.6m year on year.
Sales, however, dropped to $4.1bn versus $4.2m for the same period a year earlier.
The company said during the second quarter it completed investment projects at two of our plants that negatively impacted quarterly production volumes, but should result in improved efficiencies and enhanced sales mix opportunities.
Grupo Lala enjoys positive H1
Mexico dairy Grupo Lala saw an increase in half year profit and sales.
Net income rose 8.3% to MXP1.9bn (US$118.2m) and operating income increased 11.7% to MXP2.7bn.
Sales rose to MXP23.5bn compared with MXP22.1bn.
During the second quarter, sales were up 8% to MXP11.84bn primarily due to organic growth resulting from commercial, pricing strategies and processes implemented over the year, Lala explained. Operating income increased by 26.6%, to MXP1.4bn. Net income increased to MXP999m versus MXP843m.
Cranswick upbeat as sales rise
UK protein group Cranswick booked an 8% increase in first-quarter sales, boosted by the acquisition of Benson Park.
On an organic basis revenue rose 4%. Volumes increased 7% as the company was able to pass lower input costs to its customers. Sales to markets in the Far East rose 14% the group revealed.
Cranswick was also able to lower its debt levels while continuing to invest in its asset base to "increase capacity and drive further operating efficiencies".
Commenting on the group's performance, Investec analyst Nicola Mallard said: "A good start to the year with Cranswick reporting a revenue increase of 8%, assisted by some acquisition benefit from Benson Park, but also reflecting some new volume in fresh pork and some selling price deflation. With pig prices stable this quarter, we should not expect to see any unusual moves in margins. We make no changes to forecasts at this stage of the year, but expect growth to be slightly more first half-biased given expected volume trends."
Atria profit stable as sales fall
Atria Group reported comparable EBIT "at the previous year’s level" for the first half, despite a drop in sales.
Consolidated net sales at the European meat group fell by 6.6% to EUR652.1m (US$720.1m) in the six months. At constant exchange rates, the decline was 4.2%.
The company nevertheless said that comparable EBIT remained stable at EUR7.2m versus EUR7.1m last year. Consolidated EBIT was EUR9.1m against EUR5.8m, the company said, including a non-recurring items of positive EUR1.9m, versus charges of EUR1.2m last year.
M. Dias Branco sees sales, EBITDA slide
Brazil-based biscuits-to-pasta group M. Dias Branco reported higher net income for the first half of 2015 but saw its EBITDA and net revenue slide year-on-year.
The company's net income hit BRL316.2m (US$92.8m), up 13.3% on a year earlier, amid boost from a one-off item. However, the group's EBITDA dipped 3.8% to BRL360.4m amid pressure on costs and sales.
Revenue slid 2% BRL2.16bn, with volumes down in the second quarter. M. Dias Branco said consumption in Brazil had slowed in the second quarter amid high inflation and an upturn in unemployment.
Savola H1 profits down despite higher sales
The Saudi food group posted a 10.5% fall in first-half net income to SAR925.3m (US$246.7m), despite higher sales, amid an increase in operating expenses and lower income from associates.
Revenues increased 2.9% to SAR13.97bn.
