HILTON FOOD GROUP ACHIEVES 50% REVENUE JUMP
The Hilton Food Group has announced it achieved a significant increase in turnover last year, boosted by strong growth in Australia.
The scheduled end of a transition period for a joint venture with Australian firm Woolworths, and the purchase of the assets linked to it, namely plants in the states of Western Australia and Victoria, was a factor in the 52.9% jump in global revenues to £2.77 billion.
Last year was also the first full year of operations at the firm’s AUS$280 million (US$214.22 million) Brisbane facility, which opened in July 2019. With a weekly processing capacity of about 1,500 tonnes, the plant in Queensland – built to supply Australia’s eastern seaboard and the Northern Territory – is the company’s largest facility in Australia.
On announcing its results, UK-based Hilton also said it was on target to open its NZ$100 million (US$70.53 million) plant in Wiri on New Zealand’s north island in the third quarter of this year.
The facility is the result of a partnership between Hilton and the New Zealand supermarket group Countdown that was announced in October 2017.
On announcing its results for the year ending January 3, 2021, Hilton said adjusted operating profit was up 22.5% to £67 million.
“As with all businesses there remain some uncertainties concerning the full impact of Covid-19, including potential recessionary risks, but our robust and sustainable business model and wide geographical spread make us believe we are well placed to meet any future challenges,” Robert Watson, the chairman, said in a statement.
The company, which has plants across Europe, last year inaugurated a facility in Belgium to supply the Dutch-headquartered supermarket group Delhaize.
Join us at SIAL Paris as exhibitor Join us at SIAL Paris as visitor
