Premier Foods plc Trading update for the 13 weeks ended 30 June 2018 (9533U)

TIDMPFD TIDMIRSH

RNS Number : 9533U

Premier Foods plc

18 July 2018

Premier Foods plc (the "Company" or the "Group")

Trading update for the 13 weeks ended 30 June 2018

   --     Q1 Group sales up +1.7% 
   --     Calendar H1 Group sales up +4.5% 
   --     Expectations for the full year remain unchanged 
 
 Gavin Darby, Chief Executive Officer

"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."

 
 Q1 Sales % change    Grocery   Sweet Treats   Group   Calendar 
                                                          H1 
 
 Branded              (1.5%)        7.6%       1.1%      3.5% 
 Non-branded           9.1%        (5.4%)      4.8%     10.0% 
                     --------  -------------  ------  --------- 
 Total                 0.2%         5.5%       1.7%      4.5% 
                     --------  -------------  ------  ---------

Trading update

Group 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%.

In 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 the UK. Angel Delight again saw double-digit sales growth in the quarter, while Loyd Grossman sales were lower due to changes in the phasing of promotional activity. Nissin branded products Soba Noodles and Cup Noodle grew by nearly 80% compared to the same period a year ago.

In Sweet Treats, Cadbury cake sales in the UK were lower in the early part of the quarter as expected due to Easter falling in the previous quarter, while non-branded sales were GBP0.4m lower as the Group exited two customer contracts.

Non-branded sales in the Grocery business increased by 9.1% with continued good momentum in Knighton Foods and contract wins in Stuffing and Foodservice.

Cost reduction & efficiency programmes

The Group successfully completed the second phase of the consolidation of its warehousing and distribution operations into one central location during the quarter. The facility in Tamworth, Warwickshire, is expected to complete the third and final phase of the project in the second quarter of the year.

Outlook

The Group's expectations for progress in its key priorities in the full year remains unchanged, and as previously communicated, weighted to the second half of the year. The Board is committed to continuing its strategy of improving performance and reducing net debt by GBP25m per annum, while working in parallel to identify other strategic opportunities to accelerate the Company's turnaround to create value for shareholders.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Institutional investors and analysts:

 
 Alastair Murray, Chief Financial Officer    +44 (0) 1727 815 850 
 Richard Godden, Director of Investor 
  Relations & Treasury                       +44 (0) 1727 815 850

Media enquiries:

 
 Maitland    +44 (0) 20 7379 5151

Neil Bennett

Clinton Manning

Joanna Davidson

Conference Call

A conference call for investors and analysts will take place on 18 July 2018 at 9.00am, details of which are outlined below. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website later in the day.

http://www.premierfoods.co.uk/investors/results-centre

 
 Telephone number:            +44 20 7192 8000 
 Telephone number (UK Toll 
  free)                       0800 376 7922 
 Conference ID:               4996315

A Premier Foods image gallery is available using the following link:

http://www.premierfoods.co.uk/media/image-gallery

Certain statements in this Trading Update are forward looking statements. By their nature, forward looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. Forward looking statements regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements.

Notes to editors:

   1.   Sales data is for the thirteen weeks to 30 June 2018 or 1 July 2017 as appropriate. 
 
 Q1 Sales (GBPm)    FY18/19   FY17/18   % Change 
                       Q1        Q1 
 Grocery 
 Branded              100.8     102.3    (1.5%) 
 Non-branded           20.8      19.1     9.1% 
                   --------  --------  --------- 
 Total                121.6     121.4     0.2% 
 Sweet Treats 
 Branded               43.9      40.8     7.6% 
 Non-branded            7.5       7.9    (5.4%) 
                   --------  --------  --------- 
 Total                 51.4      48.7     5.5% 
                   --------  --------  --------- 
 Group 
 Branded              144.6     143.1     1.1% 
 Non-branded           28.4      27.0     4.8% 
                   --------  --------  --------- 
 Total                173.0     170.1     1.7% 
                   --------  --------  ---------

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

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July 18, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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