DENMARK: Danisco posts slightly higher Q4 net income

Danish food and ingredients firm Danisco has reported a small rise in fourth-quarter net profit, as heightened demand for ingredients for low-carbohydrate foods offset lower sugar prices.

The company posted net profit of DKK307m (US$49.8m) for the fourth quarter to 30 April, compared to DKK301m in the same quarter of the previous year. Sales rose 7.2% to DKK4.38bn, reported Dow Jones International News.

Danisco’s ingredients and sweeteners unit had strong organic growth of 9% for the quarter, boosted by sales of natural sweeteners for low-carbohydrate products.

Sugar sales increased 10%, helped by higher industrial sales in Denmark, but the unit’s EBITA margin dropped slightly, due partially to lower sugar prices, Dow Jones said.

For the full year, the company posted net profit of DKK997m, compared to DKK996m a year earlier. Sales slid 0.9% to DKK16.4bn.