Uniq’s UK focus prompts a return to growth

In a trading update Uniq said that in the fourth quarter of the year (the 13 weeks to 26 December) new business won had driven sales growth of 4.0% and that its profits would be in line with expectations. The desserts business saw sales growth of 0.4% in the quarter with a good performance at Christmas reversing a decline in the previous two quarters. New commercial and development teams had created new and improved product ranges for 2010 and more than £10 million had been invested in capital equipment, the update statement said. The consolidation from three factories into two had been successfully completed and the sale of the company's Paignton, Devon site for £1.25m had been agreed. In 'food to go' sales were up 11.5% in the final quarter. At Uniq's Northampton business new sandwich volume won with Marks & Spencer will reach a rate of £15 million of annual sales early in the second quarter 2010 although this was partly offset by the loss of a significant proportion of airline business through the airline's decision to reduce food services on short haul flights. Uniq's factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire successfully launched £12 million of annualised new business with The Cooperative and secured the number two position in the dressed salad market. Looking ahead, Uniq - which is headed by CEO Geoff Eaton (pictured) - said the improvement evident in the final two quarters of 2009 was encouraging and was expected to continue into 2010 despite the tough market environment, although the first three weeks of 2010 had been adversely affected by the weather.