Total Produce has announced pre-tax profits as currency fluctuations and acquisitions from 2008 affected the group.
The company recorded pre-tax profits of €28.4 million (£25.8m) for the year ending December 2009, compared to €29.8m a year earlier, after exceptional items which fell by 4.9 per cent in fiscal 2009.
Revenue for the group was up 0.7 per cent on a constant currency basis.
The group is in “a strong financial position and continues to pursue attractive acquisition opportunities”.
But in the fresh produce division, revenue declined by 1.9 per cent to €2.33 billion, due primarily to the strength of the euro and marginally lower like-for-like volumes and average selling prices.
Revenues fell by 3.3 per cent over the 12-month period under review to €2.43bn.
These decreases were offset by the full-year contribution of acquisitions made in the second half of 2008.
Total Produce chairman Carl McCann said: "The group has delivered a resilient performance in 2009 against the background of a challenging economic environment and adverse currency movements.
"For 2010, the extremely cold weather and heavy snowfalls throughout most of Europe have resulted in a slow start to the year, keeping consumers at home and temporarily reducing demand. However, Total Produce remains positive about its position as one of the leading fresh produce companies in Europe, with the benefit of a good spread of activities throughout the region.”
