Christian Salvesen profits up
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• Christian Salvesen has topped the year with a 7% boost in pre-tax profits, up by £4.5m to £66.6m. This was matched by an 11% rise in turnover to £422.7m in the year to March.
However, the company has set aside more than El3m to cut back its distribution operation, including the cost of getting out of hire-and-reward haulage. More than 90% of the group's distribution business is now contract hire.
Distribution sales rose from £228.8m to £248.4m, but trading profit was disappointing at £27.5m. Salvesen blames "sluggish" high-street trade for this poor performance.
The company's overall profit increase was partly generated by its Aggreko generator hire division which enjoyed a 25% rise in turnover to £82.4m, matched by trading profits up 38% to £21.8m.
Salvesen Brick's profits slumped more than 40% to £5.6m. But its food services division, which processes frozen vegetables, reported a 12.5% boost to £11.2m.