Trading Update

Real Good Food Company Plc (The) 24 January 2006 Date: 24 January 2006 On behalf of: Real Good Food Company plc ('the Company' or ' RGFC') Embargoed to: 0700hrs Real Good Food Company plc Trading Update for the year to 31st December 2005 • Integration RGFC/Napier Brown in line with plans • PBT approximately £7million for full year 2005 • Business well positioned for 2006 Real Good Food Company plc, the food manufacturing group in ambient, chilled and frozen products, is providing the following trading update prior to entering its close period. Against a very competitive background in all our sectors, trading performance has been marginally below market expectations. Five Star Fish and Napier Brown Foods continue to perform well, the latter against the background of a very competitive sugar market. The performances of both the Renshaw ingredients business and Hayden's Bakeries have enjoyed record results under our ownership, exceeding their performances in the previous year, though below their targets for 2005. Five Star Fish had another outstanding year with increased sales and an improvement in gross margins thanks to excellent factory efficiencies and the achievement of some price increases. The division has now achieved the earn-out targets set at the time of acquisition. This was achieved against the background of a flat foodservice market and raw material inflation. Hayden's and Seriously Scrumptious, now operating together as the Bakery Division, have achieved much improved performance when compared to 2004. However, delayed launches of new products to existing customers and delays of new customers coming on stream has hindered progress. The Board is confident that the steps it has taken to strengthen the commercial team and improve labour costs and controls will result in improved performance during the course of 2006. Performance at the Renshaw ingredients business was broadly in line with expectations despite considerable restructuring activity. Renshaw has now successfully integrated the Sefcol business and the caramel production lines transferred from the Group's former plant in Runcorn. As previously announced, the Board took the decision to close the loss-making nut processing arm of Sefcol, to be effective at the end of January 2006. Additionally, the management team in Renshaw has been strengthened by two senior managerial appointments. Napier Brown Foods, the sugar and dry ingredients division, achieved record sales, with volumes to retail customers being particularly strong, following the integration of the James Budgett Sugars business into the division in spring 2005. During the course of the year, the division has also made good progress towards improving margins, despite increased volatility in the sugar market. The consolidation of the Head office and central functions of RGFC and Napier Brown Foods plc has now been completed, although costs associated with this restructuring were marginally higher than anticipated. I would like to welcome Pat Ridgwell and Chris Thomas to the Board and thank Campbell Mitchell and Richard Gradowski-Smith, who have now left the Board, for their contributions over the past two years. In light of the above factors, we now expect the profit before exceptional items for the Group for 2005 to be approximately £7 million. At the year end the Group had a positive cash balance of over £6 million, with debt some £11 million within the Group's available facilities. We believe all business units are now well structured to be able to compete effectively in what is a competitive market and we are optimistic for a successful 2006. Enquiries to: John Gibson/Lee Camfield Real Good Food Company Tel: 020 7234 0570 Emma Kane / Duncan McCormick Redleaf Communications Ltd Tel: 020 7955 1410 (PR Adviser to the Company) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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