Business
Trading update for the 13 weeks ended 30 June 2018
Trading update for the 13 weeks ended 30 June 2018.
About this update from Premier Foods Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n \nRNS Number : 9533U Premier Foods plc 18 July 2018 \n\n18 July 2018\nPremier Foods plc (the \"Company\" or the \"Group\")\nTrading update for the 13 weeks ended 30 June 2018\n· Q1 Group sales up +1.7%\n· Calendar H1 Group sales up +4.5%\n· Expectations for the full year remain unchanged\n \n\n\n\nGavin Darby, Chief Executive Officer\n\n\n\n\n\"We are pleased to report another quarter of growth, with sales up +1.7% compared to last year. Our biggest brand, Mr Kipling, led the charge with an excellent performance on the back of its recent brand relaunch with sales up +14% in the UK. Over the last six months, we have delivered sales growth of +4.5% which goes to show that our strategy of product innovation and working closely with our strategic partnerships is delivering results. With further exciting innovation across our branded portfolio to come in the months ahead, our expectations for progress in the year remain unchanged.\"\n \n\n\n\nQ1 Sales % change\n\n\nGrocery\n\n\nSweet Treats\n\n\nGroup\n\n\n\n\n\nCalendar\nH1\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBranded\n\n\n(1.5%)\n\n\n7.6%\n\n\n1.1%\n\n\n\n\n\n3.5%\n\n\n\n\nNon-branded\n\n\n9.1%\n\n\n(5.4%)\n\n\n4.8%\n\n\n\n\n\n10.0%\n\n\n\n\nTotal\n\n\n0.2%\n\n\n5.5%\n\n\n1.7%\n\n\n\n\n\n4.5%\n\n\n\n \nTrading update\n \nGroup sales in the first quarter grew by 1.7% compared to the prior year. This reflected a particularly good performance from the Group's largest brand, Mr Kipling, following a comprehensive brand relaunch in March which included a TV advertising campaign, brand re-design and new packaging. International sales increased approximately 4% during quarter 1 and followed a better than expected performance in the previous quarter. Taking these last two quarters together, International sales grew nearly 20%.\n \nIn the Grocery business, Batchelors continued to display the excellent growth trends it has delivered over the last year, with further demonstration that its innovation strategy, aligned to key consumer trends is working. Batchelors Super Noodles pots and Pasta 'n' Sauce pots grew by over 50% in the quarter. Sales of Bisto were slower towards the end of the first quarter as category volumes declined due to warmer weather experienced in ...