Fyffe’s full-year up €4m

FYFFES, Europe’s biggest importer and distributor of fruit and vegetables, said business has improved in the past three months and full-year earnings will be €4 million ($5 million) more than it expected in September.

Full-year profit before exceptional gains and goodwill costs will be “close to” last year’s figure of €68 million, said Brian Bell, a spokesman for Fyffes.

Fyffes said in September, when it published first-half results, that the sweltering conditions in most European countries during late July and August would cut third-quarter operating profit at the Dublin-based company by about €8 million.

Temperatures reached 40 degrees cCentigrade (104 fFahrenheit) in some parts of Europe in August.

“There was a blip in the summer due to the hot weather, it hurt the sale of fruit,” said Mr Bell.

“The milder winter weather has helped, and prices have been strong,” he said.

The company’s stock has gained 23% in 2003.

Fyffes will book a net gain of about €5 million after selling some properties and ending some operations, the company said.