Bonduelle

French fresh convenience group Bonduelle saw turnover increase 3.5 per cent in the first half of 2009/10, boosted mainly by recent acquisitions, according to FoodBizDaily.

Bonduelle announced a turnover of €760m from 1 July to 31 December 2009, up 3.5 per cent at constant foreign exchange rates.

It stated that various acquisitions in the full year 2008/09, including of La Corbeille, had “impacted favourably on turnover”, accounting for 3.4 per cent of the increase.

A statement from the group said: “In a consumer climate which is far from dynamic, the Bonduelle group will pursue its policy of offering affordably priced products – notably through an active policy on promotion – and launching products which are perceived as innovative by the consumer, such as its steamed-vegetable products in France, or its rice-and-vegetable products in North America.”

Looking forward to the full-year, the company stated that it expected to increase the gain in market share recorded in the first half of the year, and predicted an annual turnover of approximately €1,580m, up 3.7 per cent.

Such an increase is partly anticipated as a result of the impact of its most recent acquisition, France Champignon.