Taiwanese snack food company Want Want Holdings has posted a 7.3% year-on-year increase in first-quarter net profit, boosted by sales of sweets and rice crackers.


The Singapore-listed company reported first-quarter net profit of US$28.2m, compared with $26.3m in the year-ago period.


The company’s revenue rose 6.1% to $130.7m for the quarter to 31 March.


Want Want said the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) had not had a significant effect on the company’s operations and it expects to see an improvement in its performance this year.