Rexam, the London-based packaging group, has reported a 3 per cent increase in sales for the first half of the year, with a 6 per cent rise in sales of beverage cans, offsetting a slowdown in its healthcare business. Underlying operating profit from its healthcare segment was £27 million for 2012's first six months, down from £36 million for the comparable period last year.
The company's pretax profits from continuing operations were up 1 per cent to £207 million, excluding the personal care business, which the company is selling for $709 million. The global consumer packaging firm produces about 57 billion cans a year for global brands including Red Bull, PepsiCo and Carlsberg and saw beverage cans organic operating profit rise by 9 per cent.
Rexam CEO, Graham Chipchase said, "Beverage Cans traded well with the global growth of specialty cans and the performance of the North American business overcoming cost headwinds. As indicated previously, we had some specific challenges in Healthcare." (1 Aug)
© 2012 ESM European Supermarket Magazine
