Bernard Matthews sales hit by cooked meats fall

- Published: 22 June, 2010

Bernard Matthews’ full year statement has revealed group turnover fell last year while operating profits rose in the same period.

Group turnover from continuing operations slightly decreased to £330.5m in 2009 compared to £335.1m in 2008 with operating profit rising to £2.5m.

The figures come as the company as made a series of moves in the market including acquiring Lincs Turkeys, singing up Marco Pierre White as a brand ambassador and launching a new £5m marketing campaign.

Bernard Matthews Group chief executive Noel Bartram: “I am delighted to report that our strategy to move towards profitable growth across the Group continued to bear fruit.

Our core UK business showed encouraging results and we did see some early signs of improvement at our Hungarian subsidiary following the implementation of a restructuring and cost saving programme.”

The company is attributing the fall in sales mainly due to the performance of the cooked meats business in the UK.

Jeff Halliwell, UK MD, added: “Going forward, our focus will be on championing turkey as a healthy meat and advocating greater turkey consumption, whether that is through the Bernard Matthews Farms brand, retail customers’ own-label products, or foodservice.”

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>>Bernard Matthews buys Lincs Turkeys