Sushi and sandwich maker Greencore serves up a jump in quarterly sales
Food supplier Greencore has recorded a 7.2 per cent jump in first quarter sales, boosted by new product launches and strong growth in its convenience food business.
The company, which suppliers supermarkets with products ranging from sushi to cakes and yorkshire puddings, reported sales of £356m in the 13 weeks to 25 December 2015.
Its convenience food business, which makes up the majority of the business, saw sales increase by 7.7 per cent to £345.1m.
UK revenues rose by 7.9 per cent year-on-year thanks to its core chilled categories such as ready meals and soups, which performed well. Greencore is building a new factory in Northampton to help serve the food-to-go market, which will be completed within months.
In the US, where it supplies coffee chains including Starbucks with sandwiches, sales growth slowed to 6.5 per cent in the period, in line with expectations, after closing its factory in Brockton in November.
The company will expand to the west coast for the first time this year after winning a contract in Washington state, with a new facility set to open near Seattle in the second half of the year.