Packaging groups warns of 'very difficult' trading

Packaging and outsourcing group Bunzl today warned that a "very difficult" economic climate would limit growth prospects in the UK and Ireland this year.

The group, which supplies "not for resale" items for sectors such as retail and catering, saw operating profits in the UK and Ireland slip below the previous year in the second half of 2008, despite rising 4% to £78m (€88.2m) over the year as a whole.