FDBusiness.com

US-based organic food processor Hain Celestial has more than doubled the sales of its UK business (Hain Daniels) and reported a 25.9% rise in group sales to a record $1.73 billion for the year ended June 30th 2013. Adjusted group EBITDA increased 31.7% to a record $235.8 million.

UK sales jumped by 118.6% to reach $420.4 million (£270 million) and operating income increased by 220.6% to $31.1 million. Hain Celestial completed two strategic acquisitions in the UK during the year – the Ambient Grocery Brands from Premier Foods, including market leading Hartley’s jams and Sun-Pat peanut butter, along with Gale’s honey and Robertson’s marmalade; and the Ella’s Kitchen brand, a leader in premium organic baby food, sold principally in the UK, the US and Scandinavia. It also divested non-core sandwich business and private label chilled ready meals operations in the UK, and eliminated certain unprofitable private label sales.

“With record net sales, the highest in the company’s history, we delivered a strong finish to the end of our fiscal year, and I am pleased with the results,” says Irwin D Simon, founder, president and chief executive of Hain Celestial. “Our US business achieved outstanding sales along with improvements in other key performance measures. Hain Daniels delivered increased results as it transitioned to a growing, more profitable platform in the UK, which we believe is well-positioned for accelerated growth. Our Rest of World segment, which includes Canada and Continental Europe, also delivered solid results.”

He continues: “Our business continues to benefit from strong growth trends across our organic and natural brand portfolio. As we approach the 20th anniversary of the company, we are better positioned than ever before to execute on our strategic initiatives and capitalize on the tremendous opportunities in front of us.”