Stable sales with strong improvement in product mix

Provimi Group, one of the world leaders in the animal nutrition business, has announced its full-year turnover for 2005. Full-year sales were € 1 585.3 mio, an increase of 1 per cent compared to 2004. The progress achieved in volume and sales was broadly based, with a strong improvement in the mix due to increases in premixes, aqua feed and pet food. The recent acquisitions in Hungary and Russia made a good contribution. Sales of complete feed decreased, especially in Poland, due to the knock-on effect on selling prices of significantly lower raw material costs, particularly for grains and protein sources, and the switch from complete feed to higher-margin premixes and concentrates. Exchange rates, mainly for the Polish zloty, had a positive effect of € 77.2 mio, whilst the net impact of acquisitions and divestments increased sales by € 14.3 mio.