Finsbury Food: 2016 Pre-Close Trading Statement

London / UK. (ffg) British Finsbury Food Group PLC, a leading UK speciality bakery manufacturer of cake, bread and morning goods for both the retail and foodservice channels, is providing an update on trading for the full financial year, ended 02 July 2016, prior to entering its close period. The financial year ended 02 July is a 53 week period, like for like performance excludes week 53 and is calculated using financial data only where there are comparative trading figures for the prior year.

Chief Executive John Duffy said: «Delivering significant growth across all divisions on a like for like basis is a true achievement and we are very pleased to see our sales revenues ahead of the markets we operate in. This growth is underpinned by capital investment and our continued focus on innovation, maintaining our position as one of the UK’s largest speciality bakery groups. More than ever we are well placed to continue our solid performance and drive growth».

The Board is pleased to report that, following the positive half year trading performance, strong trading has continued in the second half and the Group is confident of delivering profits in line with market expectations which were upgraded following the strong first half year.

Total Company sales revenues grew to 319.7 million GBP, an increase of 24.8 percent on prior year (for the 52 week period, sales revenues were 313.5 million GBP, an increase of 22.4 percent), following the successful integration of the prior year acquisitions of Fletchers and Johnstone’s. This includes like for like growth of 12.8 million GBP, an increase of 5.0 percent versus prior year. The UK Bakery division grew by 3.0 percent on a like for like basis and the Overseas division, the Group’s 50 percent owned European business, grew by 25.7 percent. Our sales to the foodservice channel accounted for 21 percent of total UK Bakery sales revenues and grew by 5.3 percent on a like for like basis.

The second half performance of the Company benefited from a growth in sales revenues typically ahead of our UK markets, the rate of growth against prior year was lower than the first half performance as we annualize against strong sales in the second half of the prior year.

The significant year on year increase in capital investment, together with ongoing innovation and development of products and a focused people development strategy, positions the Group for further growth organically or via acquisition.

Whilst it is too early to fully understand the impact of the exit of Britain from the EU, the Board believes that as a strong multi-channel business and a large diversified speciality bakery group, it is well equipped to manage the potential effects of this outcome and continue to deliver growth and improved shareholder value over the coming years.