Groot Drakenstein / ZA. (rfg) South Africa’s Rhodes Food Group Holdings increased turnover by 10.8 percent to 4.6 billion ZAR in the year to September 2017, with strong growth in South Africa and the rest of Africa and lower international revenue.
The Western Cape-based food producer, which owns a growing portfolio of market leading brands including Rhodes, Bull Brand, Magpie, Squish, Bisto, Hinds and Pakco, grew regional sales by 21.4 percent with organic growth of 12.7 percent.
The strengthening of the South African Rand (ZAR), significantly lower global demand for industrial pulp and puree products, and increasing canned fruit costs as a result of the drought in the Western Cape resulted in international sales declining by 18.1 percent.
Gains in the regional business were offset by the lower international performance which contributed to operating profit declining by 18 percent to 407 million ZAR. Headline earnings were 19 percent lower at 237 million ZAR.
The group declared a cash dividend of 31.1 cents per share.
Chief executive officer Bruce Henderson said: «In the regional segment, our fresh foods division grew sales by 30.1 percent with continued excellent growth in the pie category across all sales channels and good growth in ready meals. Sales in the long life foods division increased by 15.9 percent».
Sales in the rest of Africa, where RFG operates in 12 countries, increased by 47 percent, driven by robust demand for canned meat and fruit juice across the region.
RFG’s brands gained market share in key product categories. The Rhodes brand is the country’s market leader in canned pineapple and canned tomato, with number two positions in canned fruit, jam, canned vegetables and fruit juice. Bull Brand is the market leader in corned meat.
RFG successfully integrated its two largest acquisitions of Durban-based food manufacturer Pakco and KwaZulu-Natal pie producer Ma Baker. The businesses contributed combined turnover of 230 million ZAR for the six months since being acquired. RFG has completed eight acquisitions since its listing on the JSE three years ago.
«Pakco has a range of strong brands including the iconic Bisto brand, Hinds Southern Coating, Pakco and Trotters, and the acquisition has enabled RFG to enter the dry packed foods market.
«Ma Baker is the market leading pie brand in KwaZulu-Natal. The acquisition has strengthened our position in the growing pie and pastry market and also creates synergies with our existing pie, snacking and bakery businesses», said Henderson.
RFG owns 14 production facilities across South Africa and Swaziland. Record capital expenditure of 487 million ZAR was invested in upgrading production capacity and efficiency in the past year. Projects included the construction of a baby food and flexible packaging factory, completion of the three-year upgrade of the Bull Brand facility and increasing production capacity at its fruit juice, fruit products, vegetable and pie facilities.
Discussing the group’s plans for the year ahead, Henderson said the focus in the regional business will on driving organic growth, maximising benefits from the recent acquisitions and big capital investment projects, growing brand shares and capitalising on the sales momentum in sub-Saharan Africa.
The group cautioned that while the outlook for the international canned fruit market is positive, the continued drought in the Western Cape is expected to impact costs owing to poorer quality fruit, which will result in lower yields and higher labour costs.
Capital investment of 350 million ZAR is planned for 2018 with major projects including the consolidation of certain production facilities acquired through recent acquisitions, capacity expansion at the pie and bakery facilities, and the installation of a clear juice concentrate plant at the Groot Drakenstein production hub adjacent to the RFG head office.
