Pioneer Foods four months revenue up 7.8%, buoyed by UK price inflation

Pioneer Foods said on Friday its turnover increased by 7.8% in the four months to January 31, primarily driven by price inflation in bread, wheat flour, rice, export fruit, and a sound volume growth in these products and breakfast cereals in the UK.

The owner of brand names such as Weet-Bix, Liqui-Fruit, Ceres, Sasko, Safari, Spekko, and White Star said the overall like-for-like volume growth was 2%, excluding the contribution of the acquired businesses Wellington and Lizi, implying basket inflation of 5.8%.

Pioneer Foods said the positive contribution from turnover growth was, however, negated by major cost inflation in key raw material pricing and other operational input costs.

In a trading statement, the food group said consumer demand remained under pressure, with spending muted and not expected to improve in the near future.

As a result, pressure on gross and operating margins would continue, to the extent that price recovery lagged.

– African News Agency

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