Sales at Premier Foods Ireland fall 14%

A difficult Irish grocery market saw sales at Premier Foods slide in the third quarter of the year, the company said today.

In an interim management statement, Premier Foods, which owns well-known brands such Erin and Chivers, said sales at its Irish business fell 14 per cent int he 13 weeks to September 26th, 2009, compared to the same period a year earlier.

However, sales for the total grocery division of the group were up 2 per cent on the same period last year, and 5 per cent ahead for the first nine months of the year.

Overall sales for the group, which includes the chilled division and Hovis sales, rose 1 per cent in the third quarter and 3 per cent in the first nine months of the year.

"We are pleased by the progress that the business has made in a tough trading environment," said chief executive Robert Schofield

"As we enter the important Christmas trading period, in what is a competitive environment, we remain confident of achieving adjusted profit before tax for the full year within the range of market expectations."

The group said expectations for the full year remained unchanged.