Pizza maker Stateside Foods saw its profits sliced last year after it was forced to absorb soaring energy costs.
Stateside is one of the largest chilled pizza manufacturers in the UK, primarily selling own-label pizza to the major supermarkets.
While its revenue grew 12% to £229.7m, relentless price pressures meant its pre-tax profit fell by more than a third to £6.8m, its latest accounts show.
Nonetheless, the company said it was still embarking on an investment programme over the next few years to enhance its production facilities further.
A new state-of-the-art factory opened six months ago in Bolton, marking a “significant step” in its strategy and enhancing the company’s manufacturing capabilities, it said.
“The new facility is already contributing to improved capacity and operational efficiency, positioning the group to meet increasing market demand and support long-term growth objectives,” it added.
Stateside Foods is owned by German pizza giant Freiberger Group, which pledged in 2024 to invest “hundreds of millions” into a new global growth strategy. This included €45m for the new UK factory and a plan to cut back on so-called “peripheral operations” to focus on pizza.
The group launched its first ever UK brand last year, with the arrival of a premium frozen pizza range, Craft Pizza, into Tesco.
Last summer, it appointed ex-Princes chief commercial officer, Ruth Simpson, as its new managing director.
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