Recovery at chilled food firm

 Chilled food company Uniq today revealed an increase in UK sales with bosses confirming the recovery of the firm’s Shropshire base was on track.

But although like-for-like sales were up by more than six per cent in Britain topping £90 million, Uniq’s factories in Europe are not faring so well.

Chief executive Geoff Eaton said the firm, which announced pre-tax profits of £1.5 million in November despite its Minsterley factory making a loss last year, unveiled the figures in a mixed trading statement.

Over the nine months to December 31, UK operations saw sales up 6.1 per cent. Northern Europe sales growth fell to 0.9 per cent while France deteriorated further with a sales decline of 7.7 per cent.

Mr Eaton said: “The next stage of our recovery plan is focused on improving margin management to secure the margins we believe these businesses are capable of delivering.

“The recovery at Minsterley is in line with the revised plan implemented in 2006.”

The figures released last November showed the Minsterley factory made an operating loss of £6.8m.