Provimi Group on a successful run

The Provimi Group today announced its turnover for the first nine months of 2004. Sales were 1,193.8 million € compared to 1,148.8 million € for the same period last year, an increase of 3.9 per cent. Only the French arm of the company suffered a drop in sales of 2.5 per cent, while on the other hand Poland for example recorded a growth rate of 8.3 per cent. Acquisitions contributed 8 million € to sales. Exchange rates, mainly the US dollar and Polish zloty, had a negative effect, reducing sales by 35.9 million €. Organically, sales grew 72.9 million €, or 6.6 per cent, for the first nine months.
The sales growth in Poland was mainly due to the passing on of high raw material costs to sales prices. In the rest of Europe, despite unfavourable exchange rates, sales increased with generally higher volumes. And in the United States, sales increased due to strong volumes partially offset by the negative effect of the weak American dollar. In the rest of the world, sales continued to develop strongly, particularly in Brazil, Jordan, South Africa and Asia.