OREANDA-NEWS. January 17, 2013. The unaudited consolidated turnover of AS Premia Foods in the 4th quarter was 19.6 million euro, which is 0.4 million euro, i.e. 1.8%, less than last year. In the summary of the 12 months of 2012, the unaudited consolidated turnover of Premia Foods is 86.4 million euro, which was 1.9 million euro, i.e. 2.1%, less than in 2011.

Compared to the year 2011, the turnover of Premia Foods increased in the summary of both periods – in the 4th quarter and during 12 months – in all the Baltic markets and frozen goods business segment.

The turnover result of the ice cream business segment was in the summary of 12 months 5% less than last year, which may be considered a positive result while taking into account the unfavourable weather conditions in all the target markets during the 2nd and 3rd quarter (the high season of ice cream sales). One might recall that the summer of 2011, especially the 2nd quarter, was extremely warm in the Baltics but also in the North-West Russia breaking several sales records remaining unbreakable for several years before. For Premia’s ice cream business segment, the summer of 2012 may be characterised by the following keywords: strengthening the market leader position in the Baltics, launch of totally renewed brand portfolio in Russia and emphasising on profitability as main priority in all the target markets.

The frozen goods business segment was Premia’s most successful business segment in 2012. All the target markets contributed into the 16% turnover growth and the 8.7% growth in sales achieved in the 4th quarter; however, the greatest growth, if compared to the results of 2011, was achieved in Latvia and Lithuania. The frozen goods business segment is recovering from the financial crisis in all the target markets of Premia and the price sensitivity of consumers is still high. In the 4th quarter first frozen goods products were introduced in the Russian market.

The fish and fish products business segment as a whole was in 2012 most influenced by the decreased market prices of raw fish, which had a direct effect on the turnover of Premia’s fish business segment. Nevertheless, where the market price of rainbow trout decreased by 13% the turnover of Premia’s fish business segment decreased in the summary of 2012 by 8.6% and the sales volume increased by 2% during year 2012. And in Horeca- sector the turnover of Premia increased by 80% during 2012 if compared to the year before. In the Finnish market, retail chains are about to increase their focus on private label products, due to which in 2012, Premia focused on the development and launch of higher additional value products. By the end of the year Premia was market share wise on the 2nd place in the Finnish market of packaged chilled fish products.

In the summary of the 4th quarter and 12 months, the turnover of Premia increased in all the Baltic markets and during both periods – the 4th quarter and 12 months – the greatest growth in turnover was achieved in the Latvian market, followed by the Lithuanian and Estonian markets. In the summary of 2012, in the Baltic markets Premia earned a turnover of 2 million euro more than during 2011. While in the Finnish market the turnover was influenced by the decreased market price of raw fish, then in Russia, there were significant reorganisations in the product portfolio with the purpose to focus on the profitability.