Challenging conditions hit Mars Food sales and profits

Extremely challenging trading conditions at the Irish arm of food giant Mars last year contributed to a slump in sales and profits.

New accounts just filed by Mars Food Ireland Ltd show that the firm recorded a 44% decrease in pre-tax profits last year from €9.7m to €5.4m. This followed revenues at the firm decreasing by 5.6% to €127.7m in the 12 months to the end of last December.

In the accounts, the company’s directors state that “trading conditions in Ireland remain extremely challenging with continued pressure on consumers’ disposable income, impacting sales growth in 2013”.