Positive trend continued in Food Solutions – Grain Trade volumes declined as predicted due to weak harvest season
Since 1 January 2018 Apetit has started reporting its first (Q1) and third (Q3) quarter results as Business Reviews. The Half-year Financial Report (Q2) and Financial Statements Release (Q4) will provide more extensive reporting and contain segment information.
JANUARY–MARCH 2018 IN BRIEF
- Consolidated net sales amounted to EUR 59.7 (74.0) million.
- Operational EBITDA was EUR 0.0 (0.4) million.
- Operational EBIT was EUR -1.4 (-1.0) million.
- Profit for the period came to EUR -1.7 (-1.4) million, and earnings per share amounted to EUR
-0.27 (-0.23).
The information has not been audited. The figures in parentheses are the equivalent figures for continuing operations for the same period in 2017, and the comparison period means the corresponding period in the previous year, unless otherwise stated.
Juha Vanhainen, CEO:
“The key focus areas of the strategy that was updated at the beginning of March – renewal, internationalisation and efficiency improvement – have defined activities in all the Group’s business operations during the first months of the year.
We continued to be a leader in the area of vegetable-based diets by introducing to the market several new products in different product groups. We also expanded into a new product group area, which was ready-to-eat, portable snack products, by launching vegetable snacks and bowl dishes. Demand for various snacks has grown and will continue to grow significantly, as more and more people are replacing meals with snacks when they are on the move. As part of its nutrition commitments, Apetit wants to offer healthy alternatives in this product group and make it easier for people in different age groups to increase the amount of vegetables in their diet.
Internationalisation progressed in line with targets, as the share of international trade in the food trade in January-March 2018 had already equalled that of the full year in 2016. Apetit has traditionally been an important operator in the international grain trade, but the company now also wants to significantly increase the share of international trade in the food trade. Apetit’s food products that attract the most international interest are added-value products, such as vegetable patties and balls, as well as peas.
The Group’s net sales declined as predicted from the comparison period as a result of the weak harvest season in 2017. The weak harvest season had the greatest impact on the grain trade where sales volumes have declined temporarily also weakening the first-quarter profit. Positive profit performance continued in Food Solutions where sales of frozen and fresh foods grew strongly. In Oilseed Products, production grew slightly on the comparison period in line with the target set in the strategy.
We continue our measures to improve profitability. As a result of the sale of the Seafood business we are focusing on simplifying our operations and boosting their efficiency throughout the Group. Our clear target is to ensure profitable growth.”
KEY FIGURES
|
EUR million |
1-3 |
1-3 |
Change |
2017 |
|
CONTINUING OPERATIONS, KEY FIGURES |
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales |
59.7 |
74.0 |
-19% |
311.8 |
|
Operational EBITDA |
0.0 |
0.4 |
|
6.8 |
|
Operational EBIT |
-1.4 |
-1.0 |
|
1.3 |
|
Operating profit |
-1.4 |
-1.0 |
|
1.1 |
|
Share of profit of associated company Sucros |
-0.5 |
-0.6 |
|
1.0 |
|
Profit for the period |
-1.7 |
-1.4 |
|
2.9 |
|
Earnings per share, EUR |
-0.27 |
-0.23 |
|
0.46 |
|
Working capital, at end of period |
30.2 |
42.2 |
|
30.0 |
|
GROUP, KEY FIGURES incl. discontinued operations during comparison period, Seafood |
||||
|
Equity per share, EUR |
17.19 |
18.08 |
|
18.10 |
|
Return on capital employed (ROCE), % |
2.5% |
1.3% |
|
2.4% |
|
Net cash flow from operating activities |
-4.5 |
-0.5 |
|
20.0 |
|
Equity ratio, % |
73.6% |
62.2% |
|
72.6% |
|
Gearing, % |
-5.4% |
14.9% |
|
-9.6% |
|
Investment |
0.7 |
1.4 |
|
5.2 |
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN REVIEW PERIOD
Consolidated comparable net sales declined 19 per cent to EUR 59.7 (74.0) million. The decline in net sales resulted in full from the temporary decline in Grain Trade volumes. In contrast, in Food Solutions net sales grew considerably in both frozen foods and fresh products in all sales channels. In Oilseed Products, net sales fell slightly short of the comparison period as deliveries focused on expellers during the first quarter.
Consolidated operational EBIT was EUR -1.4 (-1.0) million. In the Grain Trade, profitability was weakened by reduced volumes due to a weak harvest season. In Food Solutions, profit improved as a result of record sales in the frozen foods group. In Oilseed Products, profitability fell slightly short of the comparison period as the weak harvest season reduced the availability of Finnish raw materials.
The Group’s liquidity was good, and its financial position is strong. The equity ratio was 73.6 (62.2) per cent, and gearing was -5.4 (14.9) per cent. Consolidated cash flow from operating activities after interest and taxes amounted to EUR -4.5 (-0.5) million in January-March mainly due to the increase in grain stocks.
SEASONALITY OF OPERATIONS
In accordance with the IAS 2 standard, the historical cost of inventories includes a systematically allocated portion of the fixed production overheads. With production focusing on harvest time, raw materials are mainly processed into finished products during the final quarter of the year. This means that more fixed production overheads are recognised on the balance sheet in the fourth quarter than during the other quarters of the year. Due to this accounting practice, most of the Group’s annual profit is accrued in the final quarter. The seasonal nature of profit accumulation is most marked in the frozen foods group of the Food Solutions segment and in the associated company Sucros, where production reflects the crop harvesting season.
IFRS 15 REVENUE RECOGNITION – ADOPTION OF STANDARD
Apetit is applying the IFRS 15 Revenue Recognition standard as of 1 January 2018. Adjustments based partly on volume will be recognised as an adjustment to net sales. These items were previously recognised in expenses. The change will not have an impact on the operating profit. As a result of the change, net sales will decline by about EUR 2 million per year. The updated net sales for Q1 2017 is EUR 74.0 (previously 74.6) million and the updated net sales for the full year 2017 is EUR 311.8 (314.0) million.
PROFIT GUIDANCE FOR 2018 UNCHANGED
The Group’s full-year operational EBIT from continuing operations is expected to improve year-on-year (EUR 1.3 million in 2017). Due to the seasonal nature of the Group’s operations, most of the annual profit is accrued in the second half of the year. Sales volumes and the profit outlook for early 2018 are burdened by the weak harvest of 2017.
Apetit Plc
For further information, please contact:
Juha Vanhainen, CEO, tel. +358 10 402 00
Apetit is number one in vegetables. It is a food industry company firmly rooted in Finnish primary production. We create well-being with vegetables by offering healthy and tasty food solutions that make daily life easier. We also produce high-quality vegetable oils and rapeseed expellers for feeding stuff, and trade grain on the international markets. Apetit seeks to lead the way in vegetable-based food solutions. Apetit Plc’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. In 2017, the company’s net sales were EUR 312 million and it had approximately 640 employees. Read more at apetitgroup.fi.
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CEO’s review H1/2024
Esa Mäki, CEO: "The operating result for the first half of the year was better than that of the comparison period. Both businesses have improved their operating result. We continue to maintain our profit guidance, according to which the Group’s operating profit is estimated to be at the same level as in the comparison period. The outlook for the harvest season is currently fairly good, but the possible realisation of risks related to harvesting will only be seen during the autumn. Net sales in the first half of the year declined, mainly due to lower market prices for oilseed products than in the comparison period. Apetit’s operating result for the second quarter of the year declined from the comparison period. In Oilseed Products, operating result clearly decreased in the second quarter of the year from the strong profits in the comparison period. The result was weakened by the fluctuation in sales volumes between comparison periods. 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CEO's review Q1/2024
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CEO’s review Q4/2023
Esa Mäki, CEO: “Operating profit from Apetit’s continuing operations clearly improved year-on-year. In Oilseed Products, profit improvement was significant and raw material sourcing was successful throughout the year. International crush margins were at an exceptionally elevated level during the entire calendar year. In Food Solutions, the sales developed favourably. The impact of inflation, which has weakened profit development, was successfully moderated. Throughout the year, price increases were made in Food Solutions. Long-term work in product development and product portfolio management had positive impacts on Apetit’s result. The Group’s full-year net sales decreased from the comparison year due to the fact that market prices decreased in oilseed products. In Food Solutions, net sales increased year-on-year in all sales channels. Sales volumes grew in the Food service sector and exports and remained at the comparison year’s level in retail trade and industrial sales. We took significant strategic steps in 2023. In October, we announced an approximately EUR 4.5 million investment in a new bottling line to be built at the Kantvik vegetable oil milling plant. It is our goal, that the new line will become operational during the second half of 2024. The investment follows Apetit’s strategy of speeding up growth. It enables us to take the vegetable oil supply chain more firmly into our own hands and develop products with a higher degree of processing. The ongoing ERP project has progressed according to the planned schedule. The first implementation phase of the project between November and December was successful. A large and important project demands a lot from the personnel. Strategically significant ERP system is carried out in project groups that cross the group's organizational boundaries. We established sales organisation in Sweden to boost food exports. Apetit’s foothold in Sweden has strengthened as our products have expanded into new retailer groups. The share of food exports in net sales increased in 2023. Net sales from exports to Sweden increased slightly year-on-year. The commercialisation of the rapeseed protein ingredient BlackGrain progresses. In 2023, we took important steps in production process development towards starting commercial scale production. We will tell more about our long-term plans on BlackGrain in the second half of 2024. We also launched a project to produce Finnish pea protein. The pea is one of the most used plant proteins worldwide, but thus far there has been no pea protein production in Finland. Apetit’s expertise in plant-based raw materials and strong cooperation with Finnish primary production lay a solid foundation for the project. “More domestic plant proteins” is one of Apetit’s strategic focus areas. Apetit was the driving force in the establishment of the new domestic oilseed plant production development group, RypsiRapsi-foorumi. Domestic rapeseed harvest has been worryingly low in recent years. With the forum we want to produce practical information and efficient rapeseed cultivation methods. The goal is to promote the cultivation of domestic rapeseed and its profitability. We have reduced CO2 emissions caused by our use of energy by 68 per cent compared to 2019. Apetit’s production facilities have gone through a major energy transition in recent years and 74 per cent of the energy we used in 2023 was from renewable sources. The Säkylä frozen foods plant’s new energy solution that is based on heat recovery and enables the use of biogas was deployed in summer 2023. Strong cost inflation influenced the past operating year and consumer purchasing behaviour. Affordable price plays an increasingly important role in purchasing decisions. Apetit’s product range is an excellent match to consumer demand. In addition to the price, important factors influencing purchase decisions are long-term trends, such as healthiness and sustainability. In early 2023, we conducted a survey on Finnish consumers’ perceptions concerning frozen vegetables. Approximately one in three Finns say that they buy frozen vegetables almost every time they go grocery shopping and about nine out of ten consider frozen vegetables to be excellent help in making everyday life easier and increasing the use of vegetables. Approximately 85 per cent of Finns consider frozen vegetables to be a sustainable choice. Apetit focuses on domestic and plant-based raw materials as well as products that promote well-being and sustainable consumption. We continue our efforts to seek growth from diverse plant-based food solutions and added-value products. The past year indicates that Apetit is on the right track. I would like to warmly thank all Apetit employees and for their cooperation the owners, customers, contract growers and other partners for the year 2023.”
