Fyffes has experience strong trading for the first four months of the year, it announced, although it said it intends to push for price increases in its UK operations.

The company described market conditions for period as favourable and said it “contributed to a significant increase in adjusted profit before tax and earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, compared to the same period last year”.

While its European operations performed strongly, including its new acquisition, Everfresh in Sweden, a statement from the company said there remained a strong focus on the UK.

It said: “The group continues to pursue prices increases to address the lower margins being achieved in its UK/Ireland operations and the significant cost inflation being experienced by the industry.

“Given this positive start to the year, and notwithstanding the strong performance recorded in the second half of 2004, Fyffes is now targeting a double digit increase in adjusted earnings per share for the full year 2005, ahead of current market expectations.”