The Netherlands: Provimi reports growth amidst challenges

Provimi 's disposal of its fish-feed activities in Spain, Denmark and Chile to Biomar of Denmark was completed in January 2008, notes the group's sales report for the first three months of this year. Excluding the discontinued fish-feed operations, quarterly sales were up 19.8 percent to €532.5 million, largely due to higher selling prices caused by increased raw material costs. Regional growth rates for sales performance during this quarter ranged from 8.8 percent in North America to 18.7 percent in France and 27.1 percent in Poland. The group described animal nutrition market conditions as still challenging, especially for pig feeds, but said its activities in pet foods had benefited from restructuring in Western Europe at the end of 2007 and new contracts agreed for 2008, which helped to restore margins.