Mr Kipling cakes maker Premier Foods said on Monday it expects annual trading profit to be at the top end of market expectations as the coronavirus pandemic fuelled a short-term peak in volumes in March, sending its shares up almost 30%.
The company said volumes have started to reduce from the exceptional levels seen in March, but they are still expected to continue to be higher than the average patterns of demand.
Group sales in the fourth-quarter are expected to have grown about 3.6% compared with last year and about 10.5% in March, the Bisto gravy and OXO cube maker said.
"This reflects more meals being eaten at home than usual due to recent measures set out by HM Government and hence increased demand for the Group's product ranges," the company said.
Shares in the company were up 28.3% at 42.59 pence by 0709 GMT.
'Segregated Merger'
Premier Foods also said it agreed to a segregated merger of its pensions schemes that will help save £4 million($4.98 million) annually from fiscal year 2020, adding that it is moving closer to a scheme buyout by a specialist insurer.
"This announcement results in higher forecasts, lower cash injections and makes Premier considerably more investable," Peel Hunt analysts said, adding that the company will now be in a position to pay dividends.
The net present value of pension deficit contributions could reduce from current £300 million to £320 million by about 45% to £175 million to £185 million, the company said.
News by Reuters, edited by Donna Ahern, Checkout. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
