Kerry Reports Revenue of €5.8bn, Sales Revenue Growth of 2.4% in Ingredients

25 Feb 2014 --- Kerry has reported that Group revenue at €5.8 billion reflects underlying sales growth (USG) of 4.6%. Continuing business volumes increased by 3% and pricing increased by 1.6% - broadly offsetting input cost inflation of approximately 4%. Sales and trading performance in ingredients & flavours maintained continued growth momentum in 2013.

Continuing business volumes increased by 4.1% and net pricing increased by 1.8%. Continuing business volumes increased marginally in Kerry Foods and net pricing increased by 1.2%.

Group trading profit increased by 9.4% to €611m reflecting 10.6% like-for-like (LFL) growth. The Group’s focus on added value business development, coupled with the elimination of non-core business activities and significant business operational improvements due to the 1 Kerry Business Transformation Programme, contributed to a 90 basis points improvement in the Group trading profit margin to 10.5%. This reflects a 90 basis points improvement in trading margin in ingredients & flavours to 12.9% and a 30 basis points improvement in Kerry Foods’ margin to 8%.

Adjusted profit before tax, brand related intangible asset amortisation and non-trading items increased by 9% to €532m. The income statement charge arising from integration of acquisitions, restructuring/reorganisation costs, impairments and loss on disposal of non-current assets/businesses amounted to €352m (net of tax) resulting in a net cash outflow of €41.6m after tax.

Adjusted profit after tax before brand related intangible asset amortisation and non-trading items increased by 10.3% to €453m. Adjusted earnings per share increased by 10.2% to 257.9 cent (2012: 234 cent). The Board recommends a final dividend of 28 cent per share, an increase of 12% on the 2012 final dividend. Together with the interim dividend of 12 cent per share, this brings the total dividend for the year to 40 cent, an increase of 11.7% on 2012.

Expenditure on research and development at €186m was similar to the prior year level. Net capital expenditure amounted to €177m (2012 : €156m). The Group achieved a record free cash flow of €412m (2012 : €344m).

The chairman’s statement read: “In 2013 Kerry Group achieved a solid financial performance whilst successfully advancing the company’s 1 Kerry Business Transformation Programme and building a strong platform for the future growth of the organisation. Against a background of weaker economic conditions in many developed and developing markets, the Group achieved good underlying growth ahead of our markets, continued margin improvement and strong cash generation. Our 2013 performance and results reflect the strength of Kerry’s taste and nutrition platforms and customer-focused business model - supported by the Group’s major investment in Kerry Global Technology & Innovation Centres and Regional Development & Application Centres in recent years. Our developing market strategies continued to deliver strong growth and market development despite reduced economic growth in some regions.”

“Raw material cost increases were successfully managed in collaboration with customers. The Group’s 1 Kerry Business Transformation Programme was significantly advanced during 2013 which considerably assisted business performance and delivered excellent results in globally aligning our business manufacturing and technology portfolio whilst optimising functional and management resources. Recent Group acquisitions were also successfully integrated in line with the 1 Kerry Programme enabling realisation of the technology and business synergy benefits.”

“Consumer foods markets in the UK and Ireland remained highly competitive due to negative underlying market growth rates, increased market polarisation and a continued high level of promotional activity. While Kerry Foods is best positioned in its market categories with strong brand shares, the division continues to focus its business model on its core offerings and to reconfigure its business portfolio for sustained profitable growth in line with Group metrics.”

Kerry provides the largest, most innovative portfolio of taste & nutrition systems and functional ingredients & actives for the global food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.

Sales revenue grew by 2.4% on a reported basis to €4.3 billion, reflecting underlying sales growth of 5.9%. Continuing business volumes increased by 4.1% and pricing increased by 1.8%. Solid growth was achieved in all regional developing markets.

Kerry’s ingredients & flavours business performed well throughout all geographic markets in 2013, benefiting from its leading taste, nutritional and functional ingredients & actives technology platforms. Demand for nutritional enhancement, health & wellness offerings without compromising on taste, wider flavour profiles, convenient on-the-go and snacking options, coupled with increased momentum towards clean-label solutions continued to drive innovation - providing good growth opportunities for Kerry’s technology portfolio. Reported revenue grew by 2.2% in Savoury & Dairy systems, 7.4% in Beverage systems, 5.2% in Pharma / Functional ingredients while Cereal & Sweet reported revenues declined by 2.4%.

Trading profit grew by 10% to €558m and the division’s trading margin increased by 90 basis points to 12.9%. In 2013 ingredients & flavours accounted for 73% of Group revenue and 81% of Group trading profit.

Development and investment in the Group’s Global Technology & Innovation Centres and Regional Development & Application Centres continued to drive successful product innovation through key global and regional accounts.

Kerry achieved a strong performance throughout North and South American markets in 2013 despite sectoral issues in some food industry categories. Solid market development was achieved through key food processor and foodservice accounts. Performance was boosted by successful integration of businesses acquired in 2011 / 2012 and through acquisitions completed during the year under review. Revenue in the Americas region increased by 4.2% on a reported basis to €1,882m, reflecting underlying sales growth of 6.2%. Continuing business volumes grew by 4.4% and pricing increased by 1.8%.

Beverage systems & flavours maintained strong growth across all segments of the market including new nutritional beverage launches leveraging Kerry’s ingredients, flavours and packaging / processing capabilities. Tea and coffee applications recorded strong growth in particular in the foodservice channel through major chains and through Kerry’s branded products. Beverage flavours, benefiting from integration of the Cargill’s flavours business, saw continued growth in particular through flavour modulation delivering enhanced taste and nutritional benefits. Craft and speciality beverages also provided good growth opportunities. Big Train acquired prior to year-end 2012 was successfully integrated providing a significant boost to the Group’s branded beverage portfolio in all geographic regions. Development in LATAM markets benefited from Kerry’s locally established production facilities and Innovation Centre contributing excellent growth in the soft drinks segment and in the fast growing foodservice beverage sector.

Savoury, Dairy & Culinary systems & flavours saw slower growth due to weaker market conditions in some industry segments. Kerry technologies continued to benefit from growing consumer demand in the chilled, frozen and shelf stable yoghurt sectors. Multiple line extensions in prepared meals, sides and breakfast menus provided good growth for Kerry’s sauce technologies which benefited from integration of the Millennium Foods business acquired in August 2012. Seasonings achieved good growth through key global and regional accounts in the snacks sector and also through major launches in the fast growing QSR breakfast segment. Strong growth was achieved through coatings systems in the meat sector. Demand for clean-label and gluten-free products also provided strong innovation and product development opportunities. Successful integration of Griffith do Brasil assisted growth in added-value segments of LATAM markets.

Prior to year-end, the Group acquired US based Wynnstarr Flavors – an industry leader in savoury flavours with a strong heritage in chef-style culinary flavours development and well established customer relationships – in particular with foodservice solutions providers in North American markets. Operating from modern flavour development facilities in Congers, NY and in Louisville, KY, Wynnstarr creates, develops and produces natural savoury flavour solutions utilising proprietary manufacturing processes.

Cereal & Sweet technologies performed well against a background of reduced sales in some industry sectors – in particular the RTE breakfast cereals market. Kerry maintained growth through wider applications in the nutritional and energy bar segments and through ‘on-the-go’ breakfast menu options. Demand for high-protein lines also provided market development opportunities in both the bar and cereals sectors. Kerry’s innovation capabilities in sweet technology achieved good growth in the ice cream, frozen desserts, yoghurt and bakery end-use-markets. Shelf life extension technologies continued to record solid growth in confectionery and bakery markets.

Pharma ingredients grew solidly through excipient and coatings applications benefiting from the Group’s expanded production facilities in the US and India. Regional developing markets are providing double digit growth opportunities for cell nutrition products in pharmaceutical and bio-technology applications.

With challenging market conditions across Europe impacting growth in many food and beverage industry segments, Kerry continued to realign its regional business operating footprint through the Group’s 1 Kerry Business Transformation Programme which benefited financial performance in 2013. A major focus on expanding business growth platforms in EMEA developing markets, including the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Russia & Eastern Europe and the Sub-Saharan Africa regions achieved excellent results to-date through increased innovation and development in line with global and regional zone growth programmes.

Revenues in the EMEA region at €1,601m were broadly unchanged on a reported basis reflecting underlying sales growth of 4%. Continuing business volumes grew by 2% and pricing increased by 2%.

The work programme to establish a Kerry Global Technology & Innovation Centre in Ireland to serve the Group’s global and regional customers in the EMEA region is well advanced and on schedule to be operational in early 2015. As announced the Group is investing €100m in the new Centre which will provide strategic customers with access to Kerry’s complete breadth and depth of technologies and will be a focal point for all scientific research, innovation, technology and product development. In October 2013, Kerry opened a new Regional Development & Application Centre in Dubai to serve the Group’s customer base in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey.

Beverage systems & flavours recorded solid growth particularly in the foodservice channel – consolidating Kerry’s position as the leading provider of hot and cold coffee solutions, and beverage and sweet syrups in Western European markets. In the branded segment Big Train lines including cappuccino mixes, protein mixes, smoothies and flavoured syrups were added to the Da Vinci range. Market development also benefited from the successful integration of Cargill’s flavours business. Citrus technologies recorded good growth in Northern European markets. Good progress was achieved in Sub-Saharan Africa through innovative brewing and beverage flavour solutions to leading brewers.

Savoury, Dairy & Culinary systems performed satisfactorily notwithstanding a slowdown in product development due to competitive industry issues. Health and wellness trends continued to increase demand for Kerry’s sodium reduction and umami technologies. Growing demand for convenience lines resulted in strong growth through culinary and dairy systems in developing markets. Meat systems performed well despite the challenging industry conditions including the impact of the Equine DNA issues on consumer confidence in Northern Europe. However the warm summer weather provided good growth opportunities in barbeque segments. Further advances in clean label functional meat systems also led to good growth in store–cupboard ingredients applications.

Cereal & Sweet systems and flavours performed satisfactorily. Good growth was achieved in the bakery and cereal bar categories through Kerry’s unique low-water activity fillings and textured sauces. In the ice cream sector good growth was recorded through development of new inclusion lines for premium and super premium applications. South Africa based Orley Foods acquired in March performed well, providing a significant boost to Kerry in meeting customer requirements for sweet ingredient solutions in regional developing markets. Kerry continued to achieve satisfactory growth in niche sectors of the RTE cereals market.

In line with the Group’s Nutrition strategy, significant progress was achieved in 2013 in broadening Kerry’s portfolio of General Wellness & Enabling Technologies, Nutritional Ingredients & Actives and Nutrition Delivery Systems. Performance of the business was strong particularly in developing markets. Significant growth was achieved in premium infant nutrition applications. Kerry hydrolysed proteins also grew through innovative nutritional products launched in China.

Primary Dairy market prices increased significantly in 2013 due to increased demand in importing countries and a relatively tight global supply position.

While economic growth was below recent levels in Asia, Kerry continued to record strong market development throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Consumer demand in some Asian countries was slightly reduced due to relatively weaker currencies, but demand for the Group's nutritional systems, taste solutions and functional ingredients & actives continues to increase at encouraging levels. Reported sales revenue in the region grew by 5.4% to €765m reflecting underlying sales growth of 9.8%. Continuing business volumes grew by 8.2% and pricing increased by 1.6%.

Savoury & Dairy systems saw slower growth in line with consumer demand trends. However growth was maintained in the rapidly expanding foodservice sector in the region. Dairy systems performed well in the bakery and snacking end-use-markets. Lipid systems grew satisfactorily through nutritional applications in China. Sectoral issues in the Australian meat industry impacted innovation levels but volume growth was maintained through seasonings and coatings’ applications.

Sweet technology expansion was further progressed in the region with strong development throughout the regional bakery sector. Kerry Pinnacle maintained strong growth in the Australian lifestyle bakery segment with significant launches in major retail chains. In December Kerry announced the establishment of a new custom-built manufacturing facility to meet growing demand for prepared bakery products in Melbourne, Australia.

Beverage systems maintained solid growth. Benefiting from the Cargills’ flavours acquisition, beverage flavours grew strongly in particular through tea and coffee applications in South East Asia and through sweet beverage applications in South West Asia. Kerry’s branded beverage offerings including Da Vinci, Café D’Amore and Big Train performed well in the foodservice sector.

Functional ingredients continued to perform well in particular through enzymes in the bakery and beverage sectors and through protein hydrolysates in the Asian nutritional sector.

In 2014 Kerry will establish a Global Technology & Innovation Centre and regional headquarters for Asia in Singapore. The Centre will be supported by Kerry Regional Development & Application Centres in China, India and Thailand. In addition the Group is also establishing five Regional Customer Centres in Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.