Sanford still focused on building inhouse innovation capability, premium brand
By Paul McBeth
Dec. 13 (BusinessDesk) - Sanford is still investing in building its internal research and development capability and
establishing itself as a premium food brand, which "slightly" delayed lowering its debt levels and kept dividends static
this year, says chair Paul Norling.
The Auckland-based company's chair told shareholders at today's annual meeting that innovation and branding are
Sanford's "major value enhancers for our future", and need more investment as the firm tries to shed its old image of
being a fishing company. That limited the board's ability to raise the dividend payment in the 2017 financial year,
which was unchanged at 23 cents per share.
"Given the expenditure requirements associated with our transformational journey, together with ever-present and
important capital expenditure demands of the company that have slightly delayed the achievement of our debt to ebitda
(earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) ratio target, we have been unable to move our dividend
this year – this will, however, be kept under continuing review."
Sanford reported an 8 percent increase in annual profit to $37.5 million in October, reflecting an impairment charge the
year earlier, although underlying earnings were relatively flat. Rival Moana New Zealand, which half-owns Sealord Group,
yesterday announced flat earnings in the 2017 financial year.
Norling told shareholders the result was "solid", but that operating conditions started improving in the tail-end of the
year.
Chief executive Volker Kuntzsch reiterated that sentiment and said the firm's focus is on creating more value from
current volumes, with an expanded catch a secondary concern.
Kuntzsch said Sanford's development of inhouse innovation has come a long way and the company is looking at
nutraceuticals with the recent acquisition of mussel powder manufacturer Enzaq.
The shares slipped 0.1 percent to $8.28, having gained 22 percent so far this year.
(BusinessDesk)