Premier Foods: announces Q3 Trading Update

London / UK. (pf) British Premier Foods PLC announced its Q3 2015/2016 Trading Update for 13 weeks ended 02 January 2016. Solid Q3 trading was underpinned by strong Sweet Treats performance, the company said in its statement. Highlights include the following:

• Q3 Group sales up +0.1 percent; Branded sales down (1.0 percent)
• Q3 Year to date Group sales +0.3 percent; Branded sales down (0.4 percent)
• Strong Q3 Sweet Treats sales up +6.5 percent reflecting successful Cadbury innovation programme
• Q3 Grocery sales down (2.7 percent); Q3 Year to date down (0.9 percent)
• International sales up +9.8 percent in Q3 at constant currency
• Simplification of capital structure through closure of 80 million GBP debtors securitisation programme
• Profit and Net debt expectations for the year unchanged

Chief Executive Officer Gavin Darby said in the statement: «Our third quarter Group sales performance was solid, particularly against the background of a broader food sector where top-line growth was negative. As expected, our Sweet Treats business performed very well, with sales up 6.5 percent due to a strong innovation programme, especially in Cadbury cake. In 2015, we sold 185 million mince pies; 8 percent more than last year, which supported growth in Non-branded and reflected a great performance by the team».

«While we are encouraged by the results of our innovation programme to date, Grocery sales were held back in the quarter due to an unexpectedly mild December and a decision to reduce promotional activity of Ambrosia. Sales in our International business continued their strong trajectory from Q2, growing by 10 percent in the quarter3. We have a strong innovation programme in place for the fourth quarter and our profit and Net debt expectations for the full year remain unchanged».

Group Performance

in million GBP	2015/2016	2014/2015	Change
Quarter 3 Sales
Branded	208.0	210.1	(1.0 percent)
Non-Branded	37.0	34.7	6.4 percent
Total	245.0	244.8	0.1 percent
Quarter 3 – Year to date sales
Branded	514.6	516.5	(0.4 percent)
Non-branded	71.6	68.0	5.3 percent
Total	586.2	584.5	0.3 percent

 
Group sales in the third quarter were slightly ahead of the same period last year. Branded sales were (1.0 percent) lower reflecting milder weather in December, principally impacting Grocery, but offset by a stronger Non- branded performance due to contract gains, especially mince pies in Sweet Treats.

While the market continues to be a challenging one with food deflation persisting at 1.5 percent-2.0 percent, the Company’s Gross margins were slightly ahead in the quarter. Consumer marketing was 43 percent higher than last year in Q3 and four brands are expected to benefit from TV advertising in the fourth quarter. Additionally, the Group was pleased with the quality of instore execution in the quarter with significantly more off shelf shipper display units deployed than the prior year. Growth in the discounters channel continued the good underlying trend seen in the second quarter, with sales up over 30 percent in the period.

Grocery

in million GBP	2015/2016	2014/2015	Change
Quarter 3 Sales
Branded	155.0	160.1	(3.1 percent)
Non-branded	11.8	11.3	4.2 percent
Total	166.8	171.4	(2.7 percent)
Quarter 3 – Year to date Sales
Branded	381.2	385.1	(1.0 percent)
Non-branded	33.0	32.9	0.3 percent
Total	414.2	418.0	(0.9 percent)

 
Sales in the Grocery business were 166.8 million GBP in the quarter, (2.7 percent) lower than the same period last year. Branded sales were (3.1 percent) lower at 155.0 million GBP and Non-branded sales increased 4.2 percent. On a year to date basis, Grocery sales were down (0.9 percent) at 414.2 million GBP, with Branded sales (1.0 percent) lower and Non-branded up 0.3 percent.

While the Grocery branded portfolio benefited from significantly improved instore execution over the Christmas period with 27 percent more off shelf shipper displays compared to the prior year, this was offset by the warmest December since records began4. Despite this, sales of both Bisto and Oxo grew in the quarter, benefiting from respective innovation programmes, with Bisto achieving its highest ever share in December and its premium offering «Bisto Best» growing by over 20 percent supported by new television advertising. Sales of Ambrosia were lower in the quarter due to a decision to focus on reducing less profitable promotional activity, and sales of Sharwood’s, Loyd Grossman and Homepride were also marginally down in the period.

International sales continued their strong trajectory seen in Q2 into the third quarter, delivering growth of 9.8 percent at constant currency, reflecting a strong performance in Australia and North America in the period.

Looking forward to the fourth quarter, the Grocery business will launch a number of new innovative products. As previously announced, the Company has entered into a partnership with renowned baker, Paul Hollywood, to launch a unique range of premium, artisanal home-baking products under the Paul Hollywood name. These products will be launched instore in the fourth quarter of the year.

Additionally, two new ranges will be launched under the Ambrosia brand. Firstly, a range of premium Deluxe custard including clotted cream, toffee and contemporary salted caramel flavours and a significant extension of the brand into the ice cream market with a range of frozen custard ice cream.

A range of American inspired Sticky sauces including Texan BBQ, Hickory Smoked Maple and Smoky Cajun will be launched in an impactful modern pouch format, which will be marketed as the Homepride All American range.

Sweet Treats

in million GBP	2015/2016	2014/2015	Change
Quarter 3 Sales
Branded	53.0	50.0	6.0 percent
Non-branded	25.2	23.4	7.5 percent
Total	78.2	73.4	6.5 percent
Quarter 3 – Year to date Sales
Branded	133.4	131.4	1.5 percent
Non-branded	38.6	35.1	10.0 percent
Total	172.0	166.5	3.3 percent

 
Sweet Treats delivered a very strong performance in the quarter, growing sales by 6.5 percent compared to the prior year. Within this, Branded sales increased 6.0 percent and Non-branded sales were up 7.5 percent. In the first three quarters of the year, sales increased by 3.3 percent in Sweet Treats, with healthy growth coming from both the Branded and Non-branded parts of the business.

Cadbury cake was instrumental in delivering strong growth in the quarter, driven by very encouraging sales of new Amaze Bites and Hot Cakes products, while Mr. Kipling also grew sales. Mr. Kipling and Cadbury cake also continued to grow their share of the circa one billion GBP cake market on a year to date basis.

Sales of Non-branded Sweet Treats were also very good, ahead 7.5 percent compared to the prior year, primarily as a result of mince pie contract gains across both multiple retail and discounters channels. In 2015, the Company sold 185 million mince pies, an 8 percent increase on the prior year.

As previously highlighted, the Sweet Treats business unit remains on track to deliver double digit divisional contribution margins in the Full Year. This reflects improved asset utilisation through increased branded and non-branded volumes and efficiency benefits from capital projects.

In the fourth quarter, the Company is expecting to launch two exciting new ranges under the Mr. Kipling brand; firstly an Exceedingly Good range of delicious golden oaty snack pack cake slices aligned to «better for you» consumer trends. Secondly, the introduction of premium cup cake products, in a variety of different pack sizes, and to capture opportunities in a higher growth segment of the market.

Financial position + Share count

The Company’s financial position at 2 January 2016 and cash flow guidance for the year ending 02 April 2016 are unchanged from the release of the Company’s Half Year results on 10 November 2015.

On 14 January 2015, the Company elected to withdraw from its 80 million GBP debtors securitisation programme. Following the completion of the Company’s capital re-financing in April 2014, the closure of the debtors securitisation programme, which was unutilised at the Half Year, marks a further step to a simpler and more appropriate capital structure for the Company.

Issued share capital is now 826.5 million, slightly up from 825.7 million at the Half Year reflecting the vesting of options associated with the Company’s 2012 sharesave plan.

Outlook

As previously highlighted, the Sweet Treats business remains on track to deliver double digit divisional contribution margins in FY 2015/2016. The Company has a strong programme of innovation planned for the fourth quarter and profit and Net debt expectations for the full year are unchanged. The Group’s sales growth targets of one to two percent for FY 2016/2017 and the medium term are also unchanged.