Kerry Group results show growth in health and convenience

Food and beverage industry development continues to focus on consumer demands for healthy products, convenient formats and the continued expansion of organic lines according to Kerry Group’s 2006 results.

Good growth was achieved by Kerry’s proteins and nutritionals range of dairy and soy technologies. Successful product launches were achieved with premium inclusions in the ice cream categories. In the speciality dairy sector, Kerry’s business restructuring programme delivered good results, whilke the Group’s Brazilian ice cream sector saw gains through its sweet ingredients.
In dairy markets, returns were negatively impacted by the relatively weak market conditions in the first nine months of 2006. As the EU transitioned from direct market supports through the processing sector to direct milk producer payments, significant market fluctuations are possible dependant on supply/demand balances, according to the company. Processor returns were well below the previous year.
Kerry Dairy Ingredients has made significant progress through the development of milk proteins with specific nutritional and functional benefit. Further investment in dairy flavour technology has led to innovative developments in culinary and savoury bakery markets.
Kerry Bio-Science continued to make good progress in European markets. Its