Kerry set to show profit of €240m

THE markets are not expecting any major surprises from the Kerry Group, when it announces 2002 full-year results today.

Profits before tax of between €235m and €240m are expected by analysts, with adjusted earnings per share of around 110c for the year.

More to the point, however, is where Kerry Group is headed in the near future. Until recently, it has had strong earnings growth, driven by strategic acquisitions that shot the company to the top of the food-ingredients business across the globe. Its strength remains in that category, which accounts for about 70% of group profits.