Turners & Grower lifts first-half profit

Turners & Growers, the fruit marketer controlled by Germany's BayWa AG, posted a 2.2 per cent increase in first-half profit and is on track to improve its full-year operating result.

Profit rose to $7 million in the six months ended June 30, from $6.9 million a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said. Sales increased 1.9 per cent to $478 million.

"Due to the group's strengthened relationships with the Asian markets and robust volumes in all the major produce varieties, the Turners & Growers Group is heading towards an improved full-year operational result over last year, accompanied by higher apple grower returns, providing a strong base for the future," the company said.

The New Zealand market traded "satisfactorily" in difficult times and all major markets "performed well", delivering a significant lift in prices, it said.

The introduction of a new management system meant the company benefited from improved market prices despite the high New Zealand dollar. That means apple growers' returns should be significantlybetter than in 2011.

ENZA Foods, the company's processing, marketing and distribution arm, continued to grow its retail and food services portfolio in Australasian and Asian markets. Its full-year result is "expected to be a solid improvement on 2011".

Status Produce, the company's growing operation, tracked close to budget in the first six months of the year despite wet and cool summers in Hawkes Bay and Nelson.

Shares in the company were unchanged at $1.68.