Premier Foods has kicked off its new financial year with another quarter of strong growth as Mr Kipling outperformed and the Bisto and Ambrosia owner grabbed more market share across grocery and sweet treats.
Branded sales at the group increased 4% to £225.1m in the 13 weeks to 27 June, with overall revenues up 2.7% to £246.4m.
Mr Kipling was one of the fastest-growing brands for Premier in the quarter, with sales up 9%, thanks to launches of new products such as birthday cake slices.
Innovation also helped brands such as Oxo, which launched a bone broth, and Angel Delight, which brought out a bubble jelly range.
“We again outperformed our categories, leading to further market share increases, building on previous gains and we also gained further retailer distribution points, as we continue to land more product ranges in store,” CEO Alex Whitehouse said.
Acquired brands The Spice tailor, Fuel10K and Merchant Gourmet also continued to perform for Premier, generating double-digit growth. The trio remain on track to generate combined sales of £100m this year.
International revenues also increased 6% with “encouraging progress” in North America and Europe.
“Following this good start to the year, and with further progress expected across all our strategic priorities in FY26/27, we remain on track to deliver trading profit expectations for this year,” Whitehouse added.
Analysts in the City forecasts trading profits of between £209m and £214m this year, up from £200m in 2025/26.
The latest financial performance continues the transformation of Premier under Whitehouse, which was recognised last week as the group’s boss received The Grocer Cup at this year’s Gold Awards.
Clive Black of Shore Capital, which is the house broker for Premier, said in a note this morning that the latest results showed Premier was executing its strategy with “aplomb”.
He added the award of The Grocer Cup “justifiably recognises the immense success story” of Whitehouse and his team in recent years.
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