Convenience food group Greencore has reported revenue of £639.8m for the first six months of its financial year, an increase of 3.2% on the same time last year.
Greencore said its operating profit rose by 7.8% to £40.1m. Pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of March rose to £26.3m from £8m the same time last year.
The six month period saw further development overseas for Greencore, with an extension to its Northampton facility completed, new products from Jacksonville in the US and its new Rhode Island facility now built and shipping product.
The group said it performed well over the six months, despite high levels of change in its core UK grocery retail market.
Its financial performance has remained strong, as the group continues to focus on operational efficiency and tight cost management, it added.
The Greencore board of directors has announced an interim dividend of 2.4 pence per share, up 9.1% compared to the same time last year.
"It remains the board's intention to increase the total dividend distribution for the financial year in line with the growth in adjusted earnings per share," the company said.
Greencore chief executive Patrick Coveney said that the company remains confident in its ability to deliver adjusted earnings per share growth for the year in line with market expectations.
Revenues at the company's Convenience Foods division rose by 4.6% to £614.7m from £587.9m while operating profits increased by 9.5% to £39.3m from £35.9m.
The company said that the UK retail food to go market continues to show strong growth, although it has slowed from the previous year. Its sandwich category grew by 4.9% in the six month period while the broader food to go market - sandwiches, snack salads and sushi - grew by 6%.
Greencore said its chilled ready meals business grew by 2.5%, while its main sub-category - Italian chilled ready meals - experienced "robust" growth of 8.9%. The quiche market rose by 0.4% while the chilled soup segment saw growth of 3.2%.
In the US, revenues at its Convenience Foods division rose by over 30% with underlying growth driven mainly by the roll out of new breakfast sandwich products with a key client.
Revenues at Greencore's Ingredients and Property division fell by 21.3% to £25.1m from £31.9m, while operating profits slumped 38.5% to £0.8m from £1.3m.
The division was hit by lower commodity prices for edible oils and lower milk drying, while the strengthening sterling against the euro was also a factor for the decrease.
Shares in the company closed 2.7% higher in London trade this evening.
