The firm, which makes ingredients, flavours and chilled convenience foods, also highlighted double-digit growth in Richmond sausages, the successful extension of the Wall’s brand into savoury pastry, strong growth from the Mattessons Fridge Raiders brand and “solid listings” in the low-fat cheese category for its LowLow mature cheddar with a third less fat.
The Vegetable Pots range that Kerry produces for smoothie maker Innocent grew “satisfactorily”.
However, the Irish consumer foods market remained “challenging” due to deflationary market conditions and the fragile state of the economy, said the firm.
“The performance of Kerry’s Brands Ireland business has stabilised due to significant brand marketing investment and successful alignment of product offerings for the value-conscious consumer. The division’s dairy brands performed well overall with a strong performance by the Dairygold brand acquired in 2009.
“The Irish added value meat products sector proved more difficult but the repositioning of the Denny, Shaws and Galtee product ranges has achieved good results. The overall static Irish liquid (fluid) milk market remains highly competitive.”
Trading profit in Kerry's consumer foods division was up 4.4% on a like-for-like basis to €63m on sales up 0.5% (like-for-like), reflecting a 4% rise in volumes on continuing business.
Group trading profit was up 12.9% to €204m on sales up 6.7% to €2.4bn in the six months to June 30.