Irish end of Northern Foods enjoys 'good year'

Green Isle and Batchelors, the two Irish firms owned by the British Northern Foods Group, had a "good year" last year, said Northern Foods' finance director.

Mr Sean Christie said the Irish operation represented a "significant business" for the group, which is valued at £1 billion sterling (€1.57 billion). The European operation, of which Ireland represents the major part, contributed £17 million to sales last year. No separate sales figures for the Irish operation were given. Green Isle, whose new Goodfella's pizza operation in Longford came on stream in October, had 22 per cent of market share, he said.

The Longford factory was producing high-quality pizzas at the top end of the market and had got off to a very good start, said Mr Christie.

Batchelors had done "pretty well", he said. The firm's tinned foods and fruit juice business was boosted by the addition of the distribution business for Ireland of Northern Foods' Fox's biscuits, he said.

Northern Foods plc yesterday reported annual profits for 2001 had fallen 3 per cent. A recovery in the second half was unable to counter completely the drop in profit margins in the first quarter.