Reporting its first quarter results, French vegetable processor Bonduelle said that an improvement in the consumer climate and exceptionally warm weather in Europe had increased demand for certain vegetable products.


Bonduelle’s first quarter, ended 30 September, saw turnover at the food group increase to EUR292.3m, up from EUR273.6m generated in the comparable period of last year.


Sales of canned vegetables increased sharply, particularly outside the euro zone, with total canned sales rising by 10.3%. Chilled vegetable sales, including bagged ready-to-eat salads and delicatessen salads, increased by 8.7%  due to the warm weather. However, in order to satisfy this spike in demand the group has to use off-contract suppliers, which pushed margins down. Sales of frozen vegetables declined by 2.2%.