Greencore Group plc, a leading international convenience food business has posted higher revenues and operating profits over the past six months.

The group’s interim results for the 26 week period ending March 25, 2016 show an 8.1% jump in group revenue to reach £691.6m (€885.34m).

Convenience foods revenues have also posted an increase of almost 8%, bringing revenue from this venture to £667.9m (€855m).

Along with the increase in group revenues, the interim results also show that operating profit has jumped by 8.5% to £43.5m (€55.69m), while its operating margin of 6.3% is unchanged from the year before.

On the back of the stronger performance, the group has moved to adjust its Earnings Per Share (EPS) upwards by 7.9% to 8.2p (10.5c), while the interim dividend has risen by 6.25% at the same time in 2016.

Greencore also reports strong momentum across its UK and US food to go activity, which posted revenue growth of 12.7%, well ahead of market performance.

The group says it has strong market positions in the UK convenience food market across food to go, chilled prepared meals, chilled soups and sauces, ambient sauces and pickles, cakes, desserts and Yorkshire Puddings.

Greencore boss confident of further progress

Commenting on the results, Patrick Coveney, Chief Executive Officer, said that Greencore has performed strongly in the first half of the year.

“Our strategy of focusing on the UK and US food to go markets is working well and we are continuing to invest in capacity and capability initiatives to support the substantial future growth pipeline.

“We are confident of further progress in the months and years ahead,” he said.