Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling cakes and OXO cubes, said on Wednesday it will raise prices of its products as part of plans to tackle rising costs of wheat, dairy and fuel, after reporting an annual profit that surpassed its forecast.
The group, which also hiked dividends by 20% after its Mr Kipling brand enjoyed its best year ever, said it was gaining market share as consumers seek good value-meal solutions amid Britain’s cost-of-living crisis.
Premier Foods sells a range of products — from plain flour to cakes and cooking sauces to quick meals — through supermarkets, convenient stores, and discounters as well as other channels mainly in the United Kingdom.
The grocery sector’s outlook has been weighed by the costs-of-living crisis in Britain and supply disruptions from the war in Ukraine, with big supermarket groups including Tesco and Sainsbury’s warning of lower profits this year. read more
Although Premier Foods does not have any direct exposure to Russia or Ukraine, it said it would be affected by rising prices of commodities such as wheat and dairy, as well as surging energy prices and the slowing UK economy.
UK to unveil unilateral plans for post-Brexit trade in N.Ireland
British inflation leapt last month to its highest annual rate since 1982, piling pressure on the government to step up help for households facing a worsening living standard. read more
The company, which also owns brands like Bisto and Ambrosia, and distributes Nissin’s Cup Noodle and Cadbury cakes, reported headline trading profit of 148.3 million pounds ($184.56 million) for the year ended April 2, above its forecast of at least 145 million pounds.
Separately, a report from consultants McKinsey said on Monday that British consumers are reacting to the crisis by switching from branded to lower-priced and private-label products and from supermarkets to discounters.
Comments
Comments are closed.