Finance
Mr Kipling owner Premier Foods upbeat on profit after festive sales boost
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 21, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Premier Foods expects its annual trading profit to reach the upper end of analysts' estimates, driven by strong branded product sales and Sweet Treats division growth.
Jan 21 (Reuters) - Premier Foods forecast annual profit at the upper end of market expectations on Wednesday, as consumers indulged in premium ranges such as Mr Kipling Signature Mince Pies and new launches such as OXO Bone Broth over the festive period.
Shares in the company rose as much as 7.2% to 181.4 pence in early trade.
Analysts expect trading profit of between 193 million pounds and 198.2 million pounds ($259.3 million-$266.3 million) for fiscal 2026, according to a company-compiled consensus.
Premier Foods has been operating in a highly competitive retail environment where shopper demand is heavily shaped by discounts and in-store promotions, and has increasingly leaned towards launching products focused on nutrition, convenience, seasonal cooking and sustainable packaging.
"Our portfolio of brands offer consumers great options to cook and eat affordable, delicious meals at home, and together with our track record of performance through all economic cycles, firmly underpins confidence in our medium-term prospects," CEO Alex Whitehouse said in a statement.
Its newly acquired brands such as The Spice Tailor, FUEL10K and Merchant Gourmet also performed well with double-digit revenue growth, the company said.
Analysts at RBC Capital Markets said Premier Foods’ third‑quarter update was "reassuring".
The company, one of the UK's largest food producers supplying to supermarkets and the food services sector, reported a 5.2% rise in branded revenue growth over the Christmas period, extending the growth seen in the previous quarter.
Premier reported total sales of 375.1 million pounds for the quarter ended December 27, 2025, a year-on-year increase of 4.1%.
($1 = 0.7444 pounds)
(Reporting by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Sharon Singleton)
Trading profit refers to the income generated from buying and selling goods or services, minus the costs associated with those transactions. It is a key indicator of a company's financial performance.
Branded products are goods that are marketed under a specific brand name, which distinguishes them from generic or unbranded products. Branding helps create customer loyalty and recognition.
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