Kerry Group has said that it experienced a good business performance in the three months to the end of September.
This was achieved despite "significant currency headwinds" and a challenging market environment in developed markets.
In an interim management statement, the food group said its performance was boosted by the successful integration of acquisitions - including Cargill's flavours' business, Big Train and Orley Foods.
It also saw good results from the continued deployment of its transformation programme.
''Despite currency headwinds, the group is confident of delivering 8% to 10% growth in adjusted earnings per share in 2013 to a range of 253 to 257 cent per share,'' the trading update said.
Kerry said that in the nine months to the end of September, its continuing business volumes rose by 2.9% while pricing increased 1.7%. This broadly offset input cost inflation of about 3.5% to 4%.
But reported revenues in the nine month period decreased by 0.2% due to currency factors and a withdrawal from some of its non-core business activities.
In Ireland, the company said that its Denny and Charleville brands faced strong competition from heavily discounted private label products. Galtee and Dairygold maintained "solid" brand shares. Its Cheesestrings continues to develop its market positions in France, Germany and the Netherlands, and was also recently launched in Poland and Austria.
Continuing business volumes in Kerry's Consumer Foods division slipped by 0.2% while pricing rose by 1.2% in the nine months to the end of September.
Kerry's Ingredients and Flavours business saw a 4.1% rise in continuing business volumes in the nine month period, while pricing increased by 1.9%.
