Food group Greencore has reported group revenue of £1.27 billion for the year to the end of September, a 6.4% increase on the previous year.
Group operating profit moved 11.4% higher to £82.9m, which translates into earnings per share of 15.9 pence, a 13.6% increase on last year.
Pre-tax profits, before exceptionals, for the year came in at £60.5m, up from £50.4m the same time last year.
Greencore is proposing a final dividend of 3.25 pence, giving a total dividend per share of 5.45 pence, up 13.5%.
It also announced today the development of its first facility on the West coast of the US, where much of its growth is focused now. It also announced the sale of its foodservice desserts business, Ministry of Cake.
Patrick Coveney, Greencore's CEO, said this had been a year of strong strategic, operational and financial progress for the company.
"We have strong market positions, a clear strategy, and are continuing to lay the foundations for future growth through a significant capacity and capability investment programme in both the UK and the US. We enter the new financial year with good momentum and remain well positioned to deliver further progress in FY15 and beyond," Mr Coveney added.
Greencore said today that revenues at its convenience foods division rose by 7.5% to £1.213 billion while operating profits increased by 11.8% to £80.8m.
It said that growth in both the UK and US was boosted by the performance of its "food to go" business. The UK aspect of this business represents over 40% of total group revenue and comprises sandwiches, sushi and salads.
Greencore's prepared meals business makes up about 20% of its total revenue and includes chilled ready meals, quiche, chilled soup and chilled sauces.
Its US convenience foods division makes up about 15% of total group revenue and is focused on "food to go" products sold mainly to the faster growing convenience and small store channels.
The company last February announced a deal to buy Lettieri's, a manufacturer of frozen food to go products, and it also completed an investment of £7m in its Jacksonville facility to increase capacity.
Greencore also started work on a new sandwich manufacturing facility in Rhode Island. It is expected this new plant will start production in late spring 2015 and the company said its location will enable it to supply both its existing New England markets and to develop future business opportunities closer to New York.
Revenues at Greecore's Ingredients and Property division fell by 11.5% to £60.1m while operating profits were flat at £2.2m. The division represents about 5% of the group's total revenue.
It said the fall in revenue was mainly driven by lower commodity prices in edible oils and lower volumes in the molasses feed business due to the better weather conditions this year compared to last year.
