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Kerry Group
THE global food producer Kerry Group with its headquarters in Tralee has recorded revenues of €3bn in the first half of this year.
This translates as a revenue profit increase of 4.7% and they are expecting growth for the year to be between 6-9 per cent. Trading profit also increased by 9% to just under €300m.
Kerry Group are putting the increased profits down to strong overall performance in American markets, an improved performance in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and continuing good growth in Asia despite a slowdown in some regional markets.
Kerry delivered a solid performance in the Americas region in the period despite some industry secor issues in North America and inflationary pressures in Brazil. Sales revenue on a reported basis increased by 18.0% to €1,080m.
Despite the reported lower level of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region in the half year, Kerry maintained good overall market development with sales revenues increasing by 5.6% to €414m
The Board has declared an interim dividend of 15 cent per share (an increase of 11.1% on the 2014 interim dividend of 13.5 cent) payable on 13 November 2015 to shareholders registered on the record date 16 October 2015.
“We delivered a strong financial performance in the first half of 2015 reporting continued business margin expansion and an 8.1% increase in adjusted earnings per share,” said Kerry Group Chief Executive Stan McCarthy.
“Based on Group year-to-date performance, current exchange rates and business momentum, we are increasing our market guidance for the full year,” he said.
