M White sales rise 1.9%

Sao Paulo-the sales volume of the M White advanced 1.9% in the first quarter, to 398.9 1000 tons, compared to the same period in 2015. However, sales of cookies and pastas, main lines of business of the company, retreated. "Anyway, regardless of the volume have grown compared to the first quarter of 2015, in respect to the fourth quarter there was still fall in the volume of 7.6%, pushed especially by our core businesses, cookies and pasta, cyclical economic picture reflection still lived by the country and the transitional and natural impact on volumes according to the readjustment of prices made from January 2016. But, looking at the sales volumes of cookies and pastas in each of the months of this quarter, there is a clear process of sales recovery in these businesses, "said the company''s management, in a statement. While the lines of biscuits ( -3.0%) and pastas ( -0.9%) were less volumes sold in the first three months of the year, the rows of margarines and fats (+37.2%), flour and bran (+3.6%) and other lines of products-including cakes, snacks, mixes for cakes and crackers-advanced 28.6%. The food manufacturer''s net revenue totaled 1.154 R$ billion between January to March, up 11.7% over the same range of 2015. According to the company, the readjustment of 9.5% in the price of the products supported the expansion of the gains, especially in cookies and pastas. "The continuation of efforts to adjust product prices to the reality of cost inflation, so as to contribute to the recovery, over time, our margins and profitability and strengthening of marketing and exports", are some of the strategies cited by the company to the domestic scene. The company had net profit of R$ 94.6 million in the first quarter, down 24.6% over a year earlier. Adjusted Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) 15.2% R$ shied 145.5 million.